LIPSIUS,JUSTUS - ROMAN WARS AND ROMAN WAR MACHINERY.

De Militia Romana libri qvinqve. Commentarius ad Polybium. Editio ultima. (+) Poliorceticon sive de Machinis. Tormentis. Tellis. Libri qvinqve. Ad Historiarum lucem. Editio tertia, correcta & aucta.

Antverpen, Ex Officina Plantiniana, Apud Viduam & Filios Ioannis Moreti, 1614. - (Second work:) Ex Officina Plantiniana, Apud Ioannem Moretum., 1605.

Large 4to. Contemp. full vellum over wood, fully intact. Some scratches and brownspots to covers.Front free endpaper missing. Engraved printers device (Plantin) at titlepage. 397,(6) pp, 1 double-page engraved plate, 3 full-page engravings, 7 large textengravings, many woodengraved illustrations in the text.Wood-engraved initials. First 4 leaves a bit frayed in outer margin (but margins wide). Light yellowing to leaves, a few insignificant brownspots. Poliorceticon: Engraved printers device (Plantin) at titlepage. 219,(7) pp. 25 full-page engraved illustrations, 11 half-page engravings, wood-cut initials. Printers large wood-cut device at end. The 5 last leaves frayed in outer margins (margins wide). Light yellowing to leaves.

The volume contains Justus Lipsius's two importent works on Roman military history in the fine printings from the Plantin office. "De Militia Romana", first published in 1595, is a commentary on Polybius's "History", with the Greek text and a parallel Latin translation. "Poliorcetica" (1599) is a study of the Roman machinery of war. Both works are illustrated with the fine engravings of Peeter vander Borcht and Theodore Galle.

"His (Lipsius) throughout acquaince with Latin literature and Roman history is conspicuous in his numerous treatises, especially in those entitled "De Militia Romana" and "Poliorcetia" (the former including a commentary on the Roman Camp as described by Polybius)..." (Sandy II, p. 304).

Cockle: 620 a. 672.

Order-nr.: 48542