Duodecim Caesares ex Erasmi recognitione (1543) "The Twelve Caesars, edited by Erasmus"

Contemporary (possibly original) 16th century red morocco binding with gilt decoration on panels and spine. Page edges gilt. Marble endpapers. Spine neatly rebacked.

215pp + (41pp). Peculiar early pagination where every second page is numbered, so the modern collation would be 430pp + (82pp).

Printer's woodcut device on title page. Large criblé initials throughout text.

Corners of the binding are fairly worn but does not effect text block. Former owner John R. Littledale bookplate on front paste down. Neat and delicate signature of R. F. Littledale on front endpaper, dated 1848. "Littledale Trust, Cape Town" stamp on front endpaper, title page and final leaf. Front endpaper, first blank leaf and title page fairly loose. Otherwise very good condition.

Suetonius (AD 69 - AD 122) was a Roman historian who is most famous for his set of biographies titled Lives of the Twelve Caesars, wherein he recorded the biographies of 12 successive Roman rulers from Julius Caesar to Domitian. It is the main source on the lives of Caligula, his uncle Claudius, and the heritage of Vespasian.

This edition was edited by Desiderius Erasmus, the Dutch theologian, philosopher and author who is generally regarded as one of the greatest thinkers and humanists of the Renaissance.

An excellent edition of Erasmus' redaction of the Lives. At the beginning is a letter by Erasmus to Dukes Frederick and George of Saxony, dated Antwerp, June 1517.

The second part comprises Egnatus' annotations, Erasmus' Loca restituta, and an epitome of Budé's classic work on ancient coins and measures.