Tacitus, Cornelius, C. CORNELII TACITI OPERA QUAE EXSTANT JUSTUS LIPSIUS POSTREMUM RECENSUIT. ADDITI COMMENTARII AUCTI EMENDATIQUE AB ULTIMA MANU ACCESSIT C. VELLEIUS PATERCULUS CUM EISDEM LIPSI AUCTORIBUS NOTIS, Antuerpia: Ex Officina Plantiniana, apud Balthasarem Moretum, et al [Plantin Press], 1627. Full calf with decorative gilt rule and elaborate blind stamping to perimeter of boards and gilt titling on spine, large folio (15x10.25"), very good / n.a. , [16], 547pp., [32],36, 84, [14].

     Strongly bound in early calf with gilt rule to perimeter of the boards and elaborate border in blind. Raised bands and worn lettering in gilt on spine.  Very light age toning and light sporadic staining with a thin line of damp stain along the  front edge of the rear paste-down, some worming to the bottom of the final leaves, not affecting the printing.

     The front paste-down contains the armorial bookplate of Charles Talbot,engraved by Cole [?], engraved printers’ device to the title page and other section headings, elaborate initials with haunting woodcuts throughout. Printed at the Plantin Press in 1627 by Balthasar Moretus, the grandson of Christopher Plantin.  Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a Roman historian and politician.  He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars

       The King James Bible had only been published sixteen years before this Works of Tacitus.  Galileo was alive and working.  Shakespeare had died only 11 years ago.  Charles the first was king of England.  Cardinal Richelieu was prime minister of France.  John Milton was composing poetry in England and Jamestown, VA was recovering from a massive Indian attack.

 Quite the distinctive book indeed;a very tangible link to centuries past - a wonderful segment of Captured Tyme.