Boethius: Scotorum historiae a prima gentis origine, cum aliarum et rerum et gentium illustratione non vulgari, libri XIX

Deidonanus Boethius (ca. 1465-1536) (Hector Boece)

SCOTORUM HISTORIAE A PRIMA GENTIS ORIGINE, CUM ALIARUM ET RERUM ET GENTIUM ILLUSTRATIONE NON VULGARI, LIBRI XIX. HECTORE BOETHIO DEIDONANO AUCTORE.

Parisiis, Vaenundantur à Jacobo Du Puys sub signo Samaritanae, 1575

Description : [in Folio ] – leaves (6), 13, (9),402, (18).

Second complete edition, of this important work on scotland and Scottish people and costumes by Hector Boece (ca.1465-1536). The first edition, comprising the first 17 books, had been published in 1526 while books 18 and 19 were printed the first time in 1574 and then a year later in the present folio edition by the same printer and editor. In Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotlande and Irlande, 1577, the greater part dealing with Scotland is taken from Boece’s History (Cambridge History of English and American Literature (1907–21), vol. 3, Renascence and Reformation). Thus Boece provided a great deal of the Scottish flavor in Macbeth (see Liber XII for Duncanus, Maccabeus and Banquho) and other Shakespearian plays. The History was also translated into French by Nicholas Nicolay d’Arfeville, cosmographer to Henri II, and obtained wide currency on the Continent.

Fascinating folio edition in full contemporary parchment, with blind tooling on boards and handwritten title on spine, in the overall worn with some missing parts on spine exposing the underling binding structure. Interiors in overall good conditions with minor spotting and foxing, title page a little browned with antique hand written notes, and a little hole close to the inner margin not disturbing. Text printed in beautiful tondo typeface with woodcut decorated initials and woodcut head and tail pieces in text. Occasional antique notes on the inside and marginal dump stains at few leaves, otherwise in good antiquarian condition.

Cfr.: J.C. BRUNET, Manuel du Libraire et de l’amateur de Livres. IV ed. , Paris, Chez Silvestre
(1842), Vol. I, 388 ; GRAESSE Tresor de livres rares et precieux, Vol I, 467 ; ADAMS Catalogue of
books printed on the continent of Europe, 1501-1600 in Cambridge Libraries. Cambridge 1977. B-2308
(1574 ed.)