The XII Aeneids of Virgil, the Most Renowned Laureate-Prince of Latine-Poets (Scarce Early English Edition) Virgil (Vergil), John Vicars (translator)

The XII Aeneids of Virgil, the Most Renowned Laureate-Prince of Latine-Poets Translated into deca-syllables by John Vicars ***VERY SCARCE early English language edition of Virgil's The Aeneid. The last time a copy came up for auction, it was given an expected range between $2,500 to $5,000.*** Overall Condition: antiquarian VG PROVENANCE: From the Virgil Collection of Craig Kallendorf (1954 - 2023), who owned the largest private collection of antiquarian Virgil works (1,150 editions, not including Incunable books) in the world. Only a handful of prominent institutions like the British Library had larger collections. Eighth-nine of the books in his collection were the only known surviving copies, 71 only had one other known copy. He worked closely with Princeton University in helping to assemble, supplement and catalog its Junius Spencer Morgan Virgil collection. Craig Kallendorf was Professor of English and Classics at Texas A&M University. He was the author or editor of 27 books and more than 170 articles, book chapters, and reference work entries. ABOUT THE BOOK Published in 1632 by Ni. Alsop in London, England. First John Vicars edition and translation. English with verse broken into rhyming couplets with lines of ten syllables. Bound in early 20th century maroon full morocco fine binding by Bayntun: double paneled boards with fillets in blind and corner fleurons; gilt-lettered spine with five raised bands and a blind-stamped fleuron in five compartments; gilt dentelles; all edges speckled red. Octavo, 6.5" x 4.5", [16], 418 pp. Engraved title page and woodcut decorated initials. Several woodcut scrolls and tail pieces. ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR John Vicars (1582 - 1652) was an English contemporary biographer, poet and polemicist of the English Civil War. His best-known work is English Worthies or England's Worthies. ABOUT THE BINDERY George Bayntun started his own bookbinding business in Northumberland Place in 1894. He employed London binders to raise the standard of craftsmanship and soon moved into a larger workshop. In 1939 the Bayntun and Riviere binderies merged to form Bayntun-Riviere, which still operates today. It is still renowned--worldwide--for executing the highest standards of craftsmanship. In 1950, Queen Mary granted the firm the appointment of Bookseller to Her Majesty. Bayntun-Riviere is now the last of the great Victorian trade binderies still in family ownership and prides itself on continuing to bind entirely by hand. The bindery has the largest collection of hand tools and blocks in the world (over 15,000) - some dating back to the eighteenth century and all still usable. CONDITION REPORT: VERY GOOD Refreshed endpapers and blank flyleaves. This copy without the two pages of errata. Some copies held by institutions have it and others don't. It's unclear if any prioritization should be given. The book is in VERY GOOD 17th century antiquarian condition. Square binding, firm hinges and joints, tight pages. Colorful leather with the spine slightly sun lightened. Rubbing to boards, extremities and spine bands. Dust soiling on covers. Bottom two corners slightly bumped. Age-toned page edges. with a spot of a bit heavier rubbing at the foot of front board. Toned and trimmed pages. Light to moderate foxing. Offsetting from dentelles onto endpapers. Several pages with an insect chewed margins. A few pages with pen-tip sized rust holes. The last quartile: a few leaves with mild water dampening along fore-edge margin and a few leaves with red stain along top page margins. Signs of handling: a few smudges, mildly bent corners and small page margin tears. Former owner writing in pencil on front endpapers - partially erased on the pastedown. FFEP with Kallendorf's ex libris sticker. All in all, a VERY GOOD copy of an early English edition of the works of Virgil in Baytun, minimalist yet sophisticated, fine binding.