43 53(SYDENHAM, Floyer, translator) PLATO. Dialogues of Plato. London, 1759-1779. Three volumes. Large quarto, contemporary half calf gilt. $16,500 First editions of these dialogues of Plato, many marking their first appearances in English, signed by the translator on the dedication page of the Synopsis. Floyer Sydenham “was an excellent Greek scholar and devoted himself to the task of translating the works of Plato. In 1759 he published his proposals in a quarto tract, and accomplished his purpose between 1759 and 1780 in four quarto parts” (DNB XIX, 245). Unfortunately, Sydenham’s labors were not appreciated during his lifetime and he died in debtor’s prison before completing the project. Thomas Taylor later made use of Sydenham’s work in his own edition of Plato. The parts were published separately in very small runs, and complete contemporary sets are now extremely scarce. This set contains 12 of 13 parts published, with main title pages for the volumes dated 1767, 1773 and 1779. Volume I: A Synopsis or General View of the Works of Plato (1759), Io (1759), The Greater Hippias (1759), The Lesser Hippias (1761), Meno (no separate title page, but 1759), The Rivals (no separate title page, but 1761); Volume II: The Banquet (1761), The First Alcibiades (1773), The Second Alcibiades (1776); Volume III: A Dissertation on the Doctrine of Heraclitus (1775), Philebus… the First Part (1779). Only Philebus… the Second Part is absent, as often seen. Contents overall very clean with a few instances of faint foxing; bindings moderately rubbed. A handsome, wide-margined copy. “Genius Sublime; Who From Barbaric Night, Led Wisdom Forth”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDg3OTM=