Noctes Atticae.

Lyon, Seb. Gryphius, 1550. With woodcut printer's mark on title, elaborate woodcut initials, Gryphius's Griffon devise on last page verso. Printed in Italics. (64), 533, (1) pp. 8vo (165 x 110 mm). 18th-century mottled calf, gilt paneled spine, marbled endpapers, red edges (hinges weak). Lyon, Seb. Gryphius, 1550. Rare edition of "Noctes Atticae", consisting of short chapters on a variety of subjects - philosophy, law, literature, grammar, history, etc. written in the second century. The author (c. 123-c. 165) wrote the book during the winter nights in Attica for the instruction of his children, and indeed the work proved very popular up through the Middle Ages. It is a valuable source for many otherwise lost books, since Gellius quoted extensively from both Greek and Latin authors.- Blind library stamps, lower margin of title and first index page torn off and repaired (no loss of text), light browning, else a nice copy. - Brunet II, 1523; STC (French), 199; not in Adams. CLASSICS ;