“THIS ADMIRABLE TRANSLATION FAR EXCEEDS ALL PRECEDING ONES”: WHISTON’S 1737 FOLIO ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF JOSEPHUS, WITH A LARGE MAP OF PALESTINE AND PLAN OF THE TEMPLE OF MOSES

JOSEPHUS, Flavius. The Genuine Works of Flavius Josephus… Translated from the Original Greek According to Havercamp’s Accurate Edition… by William Whiston. London: W. Bowyer, 1737. Thick folio (11 by 16 inches, 4 inches thick), modern full tan calf, raised bands, red morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt.

First edition of William Whiston’s English translation from Havercamp’s 1726 Greek and Latin texts of Josephus, beautifully illustrated with two large engraved folding plates: “Map of Palestine” and “Descriptions of [Whiston’s] Models of the Tabernacle of Moses.” An attractively bound large folio.

A controversial figure, Josephus remains undeniably important in history, literature and the arts. His historical works—The Jewish War, Antiquities of the Jews, Against Apion and his autobiography or Apologia—are “among the most valuable sources for the study of early Judaism and early Christianity” (Columbia University Press). “Without [these writings] little would have been known of the history of the Second Temple nor would it have been possible to write such a history… In point of literary talent Josephus ranks among the leading writers in world literature. His style is epic, his portrayals plastic, his gift of description captivates the reader alike by its fidelity and its colorful presentation” (Encyclopedia Judaica). This English translation by clergyman and Newtonian scholar William Whiston was made from the Greek and Latin texts edited by Syvert Havercamp (Amsterdam, 1726). It “far exceeds all preceding ones, and has never been equaled by any subsequent attempt of this kind” (Lowndes, 1235). “In 1726 Whiston had models made of the tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Jerusalem, and afterwards lectured upon them at London, Bristol, Bath, and Tunbridge Wells. These lectures and others preparatory to the restoration of the Jews to Palestine (an event which he regarded as rapidly approaching) were to be his ‘peculiar business’ henceforth… His most successful work, the translation of Josephus, with several dissertations added,… has since been the established version” (DNB). Illustrated with the large Cellarius-Reland-Maundrell folding map of Palestine containing a novel key to locating places, a wonderful folding floor plan of the Temple of Moses surrounded by commentary and vignettes of details, and numerous woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initial letters. Bound with half title. Graesse III:484. Lowndes, 1235.

Folding plate of the Temple of Moses with closed tear at center fold, with no loss. Text very clean; attractive calf binding fine.