Terence. P. TERENTII AFRI POETAE LEPIDISSIMI, COMOEDIAE. Paris: Apud Ioannem de Roigny [Jean de Roigny], 1552 (colophon dated 17 December, 1551). Blind tooled decorated leather boards, gilt title and raised bands on spine. Folio; a6+1 b-z6 A-Z6 2A-2Y6 (lacking 2Y6 blank as common); [2], 776, [38 index]pp. Includes Andria, Eunuchus, Heautontimoreumenos, Aldelphi, Hecrya, and Phormio. Italic type; text in Latin. With printed marginalia, woodcut initials, and numerous woodcut illustrations throughout. Adams T341.

13 1/8 x 8 1/2 in.

From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.

Publius Terentius Afer, or Terence (ca. 195 - 159? BCE) was a Roman comedic playwright. Although details of his life are often disputed or unclear, it seems he was brought to Rome as a slave by a Roman Senator who later freed him. His work was extremely popular, especially during medieval times and the Renaissance when numerous manuscripts of his work were copied and editions printed. He is well-known for his use of Latin that is more informal and straightforward, making it more accessible to audiences and readers. Terence wrote six plays before dying at a young age. These include Andria. Hecyra, Heauton Timorumenos, Eunuchus, Phormio, and Adelphoe. The volume here includes all six plays and is the first of two issues of this 1552 edition.*citation needed

Beautifully decorated boards yet with significant wear; front board, preliminaries and first quire completely detached with next two quires slightly loose, backstrip with significant losses and separating with bands visible; boards with edgewear, corners heavily rubbed, (2) corner repairs, scattered wormholes, lacking clasps; pages toned with occasional ink manuscript marginalia and pencil underlining, small stains or marks, small edge losses or tears to pages not impacting text; scattered wormholes throughout; several pages with larger losses and residue slightly impacting text, damp staining at corners and margins not impacting text; a binding copy of this important book.