41 51(CAESAR, Julius). DUNCAN, William. The Commentaries of Caesar. London, 1753. Tall, thick folio (10-1/2 by 17 inches), contemporary full brown mottled calf gilt, custom chemise and clamshell box. $16,500 First edition, sumptuously illustrated with frontispiece portraits of Caesar and the Duke of Marlborough, six double-page maps (two hand colored), and 80 splendid plans and plates (most double-page). This copy with the famed double-page bull plate, often not present. “Beautifully printed, and richly adorned with a variety of fine cuts… the greatest part of them being plans of battles, sieges, and incampments, or representations of the situation and face of the countries in which the most material transactions passed… The translator has in a great measure caught the spirit of his author, and… has preserved Caesar’s turn of phrase and expression” (Brueggemann, 520-21). Text generally fine, with faint marginal dampstaining to a few leaves only; expert paper repairs to the folds of some plates. Expert repair and light restoration to joints, spine ends and extremities of handsome contemporary calf, gilt bright. An exceptional copy of this rare edition. 1753 Folio Edition Of Caesar’s Commentaries, “Beautifully Printed And Richly Adorned,” With Famous Bull Plate
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