Beschreibung:

Title: The Commentaries of Caesar, Translated into English. To which is prefixed a Discourse Concerning the Roman Art of War Author: Caesar, Caius Julius Place: London Publisher: J. & R. Tonson, et al. Date: 1753 Description: [12], civ, 335, [20] pp. Illustrated with 85 copper-engraved plates, including frontispiece & 6 folding maps; most of the plates are folding. (Folio) 42.3x25.5 cm. (16¾x10¼"), period calf, rebacked with modern calf, spine tooled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering piece. Magnificent edition of Cæsar's Commentaries, translated and with preliminary matter by William Duncan, with a superb array of copper-engraved plates and maps, most folding. These include the scarce fold-out "Bull" plate ("The Ursus or Buffalo") and "The Battle with Elephants." Each of these two plates has a few repaired tears. The other plates include numerous finely engraved battle plates, depictions of the various peoples conqured by Cæsar (Picts, Druids, Gauls, Germans, etc., maps of the regions occupied, etc. The final plates are a depiction of a military frieze. The plates are numbered 1 to 86, but with numbers 3 and 4 (i.e. III and IV) being on one plate, for the correct complement of 85 plates in all. This is thought by many to be the finest edition of Caesar's commentaries in English. Lot Amendments Condition: About four of the plates with marginal tears just intruding into edges of images, one plate with lower margin extended; very good or better condition overall, with fine impressions to the plates, a handsome and complete copy of the book. Item number: 236207