"GENIUS SUBLIME; WHO FROM BARBARIC NIGHT, LED WISDOM FORTH": FIRST EDITIONS OF PLATO IN ENGLISH, SIGNED BY TRANSLATOR FLOYER SYDENHAM

(SYDENHAM, Floyer, translator) PLATO. Dialogues of Plato. London: W. Sandby and others, 1759-1779. Three volumes. Large quarto, contemporary half calf, raised bands, gilt morocco spine labels, title labels refurbished. $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). A contemporary review observed, "His notes, which are very copious, serve to illustrate many obscure passages in the text, and explain many mythological allusions… [T]his learned Translator of Plato's Works pursues his undertaking with unremitted diligence; and acquits himself with his usual judgment and accuracy" (Brueggemann, 152, quoting the Monthly Review). 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—and praised the earlier translator in verse: "Genius sublime; who from barbaric night,/ Led Wisdom forth, far beaming heav'nly light;/ Whose skill great Plato's elegance commands,/ His graces copies and his fire expands." Illustrated with two folding plates diagramming Plato's arguments. 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. With affixed errata slip on page 83 of Volume III. Schweiger 250, 251, 257. Rothschild 2384-85. Lowndes, 1877. ESTC T132440. Volume I with early inked owner name and note: "very scarce."

Contents overall very clean with a few instances of faint foxing; bindings moderately rubbed. A handsome, wide-margined copy.