1753 FOLIO EDITION OF CAESAR’S COMMENTARIES, "BEAUTIFULLY PRINTED AND RICHLY ADORNED," WITH FAMOUS BULL PLATE

(CAESAR, Julius). DUNCAN, William. The Commentaries of Caesar, Translated into English. To Which is Prefixed a Discourse Concerning The Roman Art of War. London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson, et al., 1753. Tall, thick folio (10-1/2 by 17 inches), contemporary full brown mottled calf gilt, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, burgundy and tan morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers; housed in a custom chemise and clamshell box. $16,500.

First edition of Duncan’s famous translation of Caesar’s Commentaries, 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). "Alongside his academic commitments, Duncan continued to produce popular translations of the classics. The Commentaries of Caesar, Translated (1753) was published in a lavish folio edition, prefixed with 'A discourse concerning the Roman art of war.' Cicero's Select Orations (1756) was an annotated parallel-text translation. Both books were still in print during the 1830s" (ODNB). Includes both Caesar's commentaries on the Gallic wars and the civil wars. Additionally includes A. Hirtius Pansa's commentaries on the Alexandrian, African, and Spanish wars. The fine folio plates include double-page maps of Italy, Egypt, Spain, Britain, and Rome from the time of Caesar's campaigns, and illustrations depicting Roman encampments, battles, German and British barbarians, a Wicker Man, and sumptuous victory processions. With indices of places and personal names. Brueggemann, 520-21. Moss, 241-42. ESTC T136453.

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 to extremities of handsome contemporary calf, gilt bright. An exceptional copy of this rare edition.