LOT 2216

General Books - Theophanis Archiepiscopi Nicaeni, Qvae Extant Opera

1590 A.D.

6 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. (190 grams, 17.2 x 11.3 cm).

Consalus Ponce de Leon - Rome, 1590, hardback (rebound), 176 pp.

Property of an Essex gentleman.

This is the unique first edition of the complete works of Theophanes, comprising three letters from the archbishop of Nicaea which are now in the Vatican Library.
The author, Theophanes, was active in the early ninth century; the translator, Ponce de Leon, was born around 1530 and was well educated, able to read Greek sufficiently well to translate it into Latin. He had access to a good library (possibly at the Vatican). He calls himself 'Cubicularius secretus' to Pope Sixtus V: a 'cubicularius' is a chamberlain, or head of the private servants; a position which afforded him access to both a great library and some very knowledgeable contacts..
This publication was edited by Ioannes Bonafes and the book bears the legend on the title page (in Latin) 'The existing works of Theophanes, archbishop of Nicaea; now first published in Latin from the Greek, in the Vatican Library'.
A copy of the same book is in the famous Onassis Library (ref. 33522).