Comoediae, Andria, Eunuchus, Heautontimorumenos, Adelphi, Hecura, Phormio…

Paris: [B. Prévost for] Jean de Roigny, 1552., 1552. folio. pp. 2 p.l., [3]-776, [38]index & colophon. numerous large criblé & smaller foliated initials. 145 woodcuts in the text measuring approximately 2 x 3". (including some repeats). 17th century sheep, rebacked with gilt spine mounted, corners renewed (some scarring to covers, occasional stains, dampstaining to some leaves in middle gatherings). First Thierry Edition, First Issue, with colophon dated November 1551 rather than January 1552. An important recension of the six comedies of Terence by Jean Thierry, incorporating the commentaries of sixteen leading Renaissance humanists, inlduding Erasmus, Dolet, Glareanus, Melanchchton, Bembo, &c. This edition is also notable for its one hundred and forty-five theatrical woodcuts (including repetitions), depicting an actor on a medieval stage surrounded by his audience, and actors against a background of stage draperies. According to Mortimer "the text, notes, and much of the additional commentary in this edition are reprinted from Girolamo Scoto’s Venice edition of 1545, and the theatrical illustrations originated in the Lyons edition of Jean Trechsel 1493." The Trechsel cuts were copied and reduced and simplified throughout a number of different editions. "It is interesting to find Prévost [here] copying…an Italian adaptation of a series which was French in origin." (idem.) BM STC French p. 416. Brunet V 714. Brun 310. Mortimer, French Sixteenth Century Books, 512..