"THE LIVES OF PRINCES AND TYRANTS SO STRANGE AND UNCOUTH": HERODIAN'S HISTORY OF TWENTY ROMAN CAESARS AND EMPERORS, 1629 FIRST EDITION OF MAXWELL'S TRANSLATION

HERODIAN OF ALEXANDRIA. His History of Twenty Roman Caesars and Emperors (of His Time). London: Hugh Perry, 1629. Octavo, contemporary full limp vellum. $3200.

First edition of J. Maxwell's translation of Herodian's History into English, only the second translation of this classic history into English, in contemporary vellum.

Herodian's history of the Roman Empire, originally written in Greek, covers the period from the death of Marcus Aurelius to the commencement of the reign of Gordian III (A.D. 180-238). "He states that the events described by him occurred during the period of his own life, which serves to fix his date, but of the details of his career nothing is known. He seems to have made Thucydides his model, and his narrative is characterized by sobriety, impartiality, and in general by accuracy" (Peck, 804). Preceded in English by N. Smyth's translation of circa 1556; this is the first edition of Maxwell's translation, which appeared in a second edition in 1635. STC 13222. Brueggemann, 384.

Neat repair to upper corner of title page, not affecting letterpress. Marginal toning to last few leaves; vellum slightly darkened. A very good copy, desirable in contemporary binding.