THE LETTERS OF PLINY THE YOUNGER with Observations on Each Letter; and an Essay on Pliny's Life Address to Charles Lord Boyle By John Earl of Orrery. Two Volumes by Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus) - 1751

London: James Bettenham for Paul Vaillant, 1751. First Edition. Full Leather. Very Good. Octavo. TWO VOLUMES. Engraved vignette title pages, dated and engraved vignette title page for The Tenth Book of Pliny's Epistles, illustrated with 20 wonderful copperplate engraved head and tail pieces. Vol. 1 ,450pp., [24]pp. index, [1] pp. explanation of copper engravings. Vol. II. 397pp., [32]pp. index, [1]p. explanation of copper engravings. Bound in contemporary calf, older rebacking with original spines laid down, leather labels gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges speckled red; light chipping and wear to spines ends and corners. Internally remarkably clean and bright. Overall a very good set. John Earl of Orrery writes to Charles Lord Boyle: "Pliny was an elegant scholar, an excellent philosopher, and a powerful orator, the patron and example of those arts and sciences , which he cultivated and admired. His abilities were only to be exceeded by his candour, and integrity; so that, among the most celebrated names of antiquity, scarce any character will be found adequate to Pliny."