In Somnum Scipionis libri II

Octavo, (8) leaves including 1 blank, 568 pages (misnumbered as 578), (40) leaves. Flexible ivory vellum with overlapping edges, gilt fillet framing the boards, floral garland in the center, smooth decorated spine, gilt edges, marginal restoration on 1 leaf not affecting the text, slipcase. Contemporary binding.

177 x 110 mm.

Macrobius. (Aurelius-Theodosius) (4th–5th century). In Somnum Scipionis Books II. Also by the same author: Conviviorum Saturnaliorum Books VII. Regarding this edition, read the editor’s letter to the reader by Henri Estienne: from whom you will also receive some excerpts from the book by the same Macrobius, entitled De Differentiis et Societatibus Graeci Latinique Verbi. Paris, with the privilege of the Emperor and of the King of France, for a period of ten years, 1585.

Texts in Latin and Greek, almost all in italic type.

The two texts gathered in this edition constitute the major works of Macrobius.

Macrobius lived in Rome, where he was a senator, between the 4th and 5th centuries: that is, during that troubled and difficult time, when ancient civilization was gradually dying out and giving way to a vigorous new Christian era. He was a man who looked to the past, attempting to persuade himself of the enduring nature of Roman civilization, and worked to collect evidence of it from ancient thinkers and poets, in order to convince both his contemporaries and future generations. In his works, he expresses his conviction that the world is eternal, but that all things contained within it are subject to partial destruction and continual rebirth through a series of revolutions.

The idea of the Dream of Scipio is taken from Cicero’s Republic, in which Cicero attributes a dream to the young Scipio involving a conversation between deceased heroes of the Republic, especially his father and grandfather. The work consists of Macrobius’s commentary, particularly on the structure of the universe. The second text concerns the Saturnalia, festival days for the Romans, where Macrobius recounts the discussions held at the home of Vettius Praetextatus, covering a variety of topics—mythological, astronomical, medical—citing numerous ancient texts. This book has remained an important source for dating many now-lost works.

Precious copy with a handwritten ex-dono by Henri Estienne on the front endpaper:

“Dono Henrici // Stephani”, completed with this note: “huius species typografi doctissimi”.

Copies with a calligraphed ex-dono by Henri Estienne are very rare and highly sought after. In 1995, Pierre Bérès catalogued the “Projet de livre intitulé De la précellence du langage françois” printed in 1579 with an ex-dono by Henri Estienne. Bound around 1800, this volume was sold for €10,000 twenty-eight years ago (Ref. Pierre Bérès. Des Valois à Henri IV; Paris 1995, no. 114 – 65,000 FF)

Provenance: Henri Estienne; Languet de Sivry.