commentaries caesar translated english prefixed von caesar gaius julius duncan william (3 Ergebnisse)

2 vols; 8vo (22 x 14 cm); engraved frontispiece, 1 folding plate, and 3 folding maps, armorial bookplate to front pastedown of each vol., a little toned with occasional light spotting; contemporary half calf, marbled paper boards, gilt spines in 6 compartments, contrasting green and brown morocco lettering-pieces, a little rubbed with minor loss, very good; xvi, 432; 461, [51]pp. An early edition in English of the Roman general Julius Caesar's (d.44 BC) Commentaries, prefixed by a lengthy discourse on The Roman Art War drawn from classical and modern sources including Machiavelli and Montesquieu. The text follows the translation made by the classicist William Duncan (1717-1760), first published in 1753. Comprising a translation of Caesar's two surviving works, the Bello Gallico and Bello Civili, on the Gallic and Civil Wars, written largely as a justification of his military campaigns, but also containing important early descriptions of Britain and the indigenous tribes who 'paint themselves with woad, which gives a bluish cast to the sin, and makes them look dreadful in battle' (p.369). The second work contains Caesar's account of the Civil War fought against the Roman General Pompey and the Senate in 49-48 BC, traditionally seen as marking the end of the Roman Republic, and the establishment of the Julio-Claudian dynasty that ruled in Rome until Nero's suicide in AD 68.

DUNCAN, William (illustrator). . The Commentaries of Cæsar. Translated into English. To which is prefixed a Discourse concerning The Roman Art of War. By William Duncan. London: J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper, 1753. Full Description: CAESAR, G[aius] Julius. [DUNCAN, William, translator].The Commentaries of Cæsar, Translated into English. To which is prefixed a Discourse concerning The Roman Art of War. By William Duncan, Professor of Philosophy in the University of Aberdeen. London: J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper, 1753. First edition of the "Duncan Caesar." Folio (17 x 10 1/2 inches; 430 x 262 mm). [12], civ, 335, [1, blank], [20, index] pp. Complete with eighty-six numbered engravings on eighty-five plates (the second folding plate is numbered III & IV), including engraved frontispiece, fifty-two double-page plates, many by Huijberti after Mantegna, twenty-three plates, seven double-page maps, six of which are folding, and three large folding plates including the "Bison" plate. Numerous headpieces and vignettes in the text. Double-page plates have been neatly mounted on binders stubs so that none of the plate is lost in the margins. Full modern paneled calf. Spine elaborately stamped in gilt in compartments, with red morocco spine label, lettered in gilt. Edges speckled red. Blind dentelles. Marbled endpapers. Board edges and corners very slightly rubbed. Minor offsetting to title-page from portrait. The Bison plate, #41 with some closed tear repairs, but with no loss. Folding map # 59 with a small repair, not affecting the engraving. The Elephant plate, # 75 with a small closed tear at crease, but with no loss. Overall a very good and clean copy. An excellent translation from Dr. Clarke's edition accompanied with an elaborate dissertation on the Roman art of war. This edition contains the same illustrations as in the magnificent edition of 1712, including the magnificent "bison" plate. BMC IV, p. 914, col. 828. Brunet I, 1462 ("Traduction estimée"). Lowndes I, p. 346. HBS 68968. $13,750.

First edition. First edition of Duncan's translation. Folio, 16 1/4" x 10 1/8". [xii], civ, 335, [1], [20] pp. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Caesar and 84 engraved plates (including 52 double-page, 23 single page, six folding maps, and three folding plates). Bound to style in full speckled tan paneled calf, red morocco spine label, stamped in black and in gilt; red speckled edges. Housed in brown cloth fall-down-back box. Very Good, subtle creasing to spine; spotting and offsetting to frontispiece and title-page; scattered light spotting to text and plates. Folding Buffalo plate present, laid down on tissue, with loss of printed title at bottom. Repaired closed tears in bottom edge of "Battle of the Elephants" plate, with separation in fold at bottom. An impressive first edition of William Duncan's great English translation of Caesar's commentaries on the Gallic and Civil Wars, featuring stunning engravings of battlefield scenes and plans, maps of Italy, Egypt, Spain, Britain, and Rome, depictions of Druid, Picts, and German soldiers, as well as the iconic image of the Wicker Man. This copy with the scarce large folding plate of the buffalo, not often found in most copies. A beautiful example.