Opera Quae Extant Omnia. [The Complete Works of Plato].

PLATO,.

$8,800.00

Item Number: 144802

Geneva: Henricus Stephanus, 1578.

First complete edition, large paper issue of Henri Estienne’s monumental edition of the complete works of Plato, which “for two centuries remained the indispensable instrument of Platonic studies; to this day its pagination is universally accepted as the standard system of reference to the text of Plato” (Schreiber 201; Renouard I, 145-46, 1; Hoffmann III 119-21). Folio, three volumes bound in full 8th century calf, neatly rebacked with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, text printed in double columns in Greek and Latin throughout, Latin translation by Jean de Serres, large woodcut printer’s device to first title, further embellished with woodcut initials and head and tail-pieces throughout. In near fine condition with light marginal dampstaining more or less throughout, titles expertly mounted; first title with bottom line of imprint abraded and clean tear across lower outer corner of Nn1, early owners’ inscriptions on titles. From the library of important collector Christopher Clark Geest with his bookplate to each pastedown.

This monumental edition of the complete works of Plato remains one of the finest and most important books published by the scholar-printer, Henri Estienne II. Estienne prepared the Greek text himself, collating the Aldine edition of 1513, two Basel editions (1534 and 1566), and the Louvain edition of 1531 for the Laws, as well as manuscripts. Conforming to his high scholarly standards, he also commissioned a new Latin translation by Jean de Serres, which Estienne then edited and revised himself. Serres, a Protestant, also composed three dedicatory addresses, one for each of the three volumes, to Queen Elizabeth, James VI of Scotland (later James I) and the republic of Berne. "For two centuries [Estienne's edition] remained the indispensable instrument of Platonic studies; to this day its pagination is universally accepted as the standard system of reference to the text of Plato" (Schreiber), with citations made according to the 'Stephanus' number. Having been embraced by the Renaissance (indeed it was Ficino's Latin translation, made for Cosimo de' Medici, that Estienne replaced with Serres' translation) as a priscus theologus, Plato has maintained his pre-eminence among philosophers: 'it has been truly said that the germs of all ideas can be found in Plato' (PMM). His reputation was maintained in the Middle Ages, even in the absence of a manuscript of the original text, in part by St. Augustine, who praised Plato as perfect in three regards: moral, natural and rational (the passage from De civitate Dei is prominently reprinted by Estienne). The lavish production of his Plato, along with his Thesaurus linguae graecae, published six years earlier, contributed to Estienne's financial ruin.