Basel, Per Ambrosium et Aurelium, Frobenios Fratres, (1565, March, -on colophon). Folio. One cont. full vellum w. six raised bands on back. The boards have perhaps been covered with vellum a bit later. A few wormholes to upper and lower part of back. Inner hinges a bit weak, but binding sound. Some leaves brownspotted, but overall internally nice. Cont. inscription in ink on top of t-p. ("Domus Casa Professore Romana Socieded Jesu"). Woodcut printer's device on t-p. Woodcut initials, three of which are large (4,9 x 4,9 cm). 348, 279, 190, (2), (66, -Index) pp.
The rare first Langi/ Langum-edition and third Latin edition of the Opera of Justin. The first edition of the Opera in the original Greek appeared in 1551 (Paris, Stephanus). The first Latin edition appeared in 1554 (Basel Dupuys), the second (the Galen-edition) in 1555 (Basel, Hier. Froben & Nic. Episcopius) and the third (the Langi-edition) in 1565. This is probably the best of the Latin editions, and the Latin version of the Opera by Jo. Langi was also used for the standard Greek-Latin parallel editions of 1593 and 1615.
Justin the Martyr (100 - 165 AD) was a Christian philosopher, who was brought up a pagan. He is primarily known for his dailogues and his apologies, all of which are present here. The apologies constitute the earliest Christian ones of some length. He died a martyr in Rome after having been condemned a Christian by Q. Junius Rusticus. As a philosopher he dealt with Stocism, Aristotelianism and Pythagoreanism before he meant to have found the truth in Platonism. Philosophically he is most interesting in his attempt to unite Christianity with philosophy (i.e. Platonism), as Boethius did a few centuries later, and Justin actually anticipates the philosophy of history of Origin (ca. 185 - ca. 255) and Eusebius (ca. 260 - 340). He is very interesting when viewed as a thinker, who represents the union of philosophy and thought with the new religious attraction in the Eastern part of the Empire under Antonius Pius, i.e. Christianity.
Graesse III:515, Adams J:497, not in Brunet.
Order-nr.: 31640