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Hôtel des Ventes de Clermont-Ferrand

212 - PLUTARCH (André) DACIER. Plutarch’s Lives of Illustrious Men…
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Estimate €200 - €300
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Description
PLUTARCH (André) DACIER. Plutarch’s Lives of Illustrious Men. Revised from the manuscripts and translated into French, with historical and critical notes, and the Supplement of Comparisons which had been lost. Included are the epigraphs that could be found, and a general table of contents. [8 volumes, followed by] The Lives of Illustrious Men Omitted by Plutarch... Paris, Clousier, Gosselin, Coustelier, Paulus-du-Mesnil, 1721–1734, 9 volumes in-4 (12.3 kg). Light-coloured veal leather with a grained finish, ribbed spine, double gilt fillet panels decorated with foliage, fleurons and small gilt irons, red title labels, red edges. (Contemporary bindings). – Slight water-stain on the upper part of 3 volumes; one title label is missing; 8 split clasps, 2 damaged caps; the rest of the spines, covers and corners are in good condition. This translation of Plutarch by the philologist André Dacier is more accurate than those by Amyot or Tallemant, but the style is more austere. As early as 1699, the translator had published the contents of his first volume—comprising five ‘Lives’—in order to gauge public opinion on how to proceed with his long and arduous undertaking. Madame Dacier is said to have translated two biographies. There are 40 medallion portraits; 18 others have been left blank due to a lack of sources. The ninth volume, published thirteen years later, contains the lives of Thomas Rowe translated by Abbé Bellanger, namely Aeneas; Tullus Hostilius; Aristomenes; Tarquinius Priscus; L. Junius Brutus; Gelon; Cyrys; and Jason. This translation by Dacier was reprinted several times until the early 19th century, in various formats. (Brunet IV, 739 – Quérard 7, p. 225 – Graësse V, p. 368).
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About the sale ANTIQUE AND MODERN BOOKS at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm
Auction location
Auction time 10/29/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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