BOOK, Early Paris edition of Orosius, 1510.

Paulus Orosius:

Pauli Orosii historiographi clarissimi opus prestantissimum.

Paris, Jean Barbier for Denis Roce, 13 November 1510. 4to. 19,2 x 13,4 cm. [16] + 110 leaves.

18th century marbled boards (spine rubbed), marginal tears to l3 and s6 not affecting text. Provenance: Joannes ?Acanthinus on verso of b8. Thomas Bridgeman, ownership inscription on title-page. From the Macclesfield Library at Shiburn Castle, with their North Library armorial bookplate, blind-stamp, and shelf-mark ”11.A.19”. Maggs, 2009.

Moreau 1510, 167. Adams O309. OCLC (US: Berkeley, Chicago, Illinois only).

A beautifully printed early Paris edition of the Historiae adversus paganos of the 5th century by historian and theologian Orosius, a priest of Tarragona. It was written at the request of St. Augustine and is described as the first Spanish universal history still extant. The importance of this work of Christian historiography lies in the information it provides for Orosius’ own time, the last years of the 4th century and the first two decades of the fifth, and for his providential vision of the Roman Empire which was to influence the theories of the sacredness of the state throughout the Middle Ages. The edition was edited by Louis Thiboust and had appeared previously in 1506.

See description.