SUETONIUS TRANQUILLUS : CUM PHILIPPI BEROALDI ET MARCI ANTONII SABELLICI COMMENTARIIS. [De vita Caesarum]. by Suetonius Tranquillus, Caius; Beroaldo, Filippo; Sabellico, Antonio; Victor, Sextus Aurelius - 1496

Per Simonen [sic] cognomento Bevilaqua Papiensem, Venetiis (Simon Bevilaqua, Venice): ., 1496. [354] leaves. Woodcut initial letters. Latin text surrounded by extensive notes and commentary. Folio. 300 mm. Old vellum backed marbled boards binding. Collates complete. Armorial bookplate of Sir Henry Edward Bunbury 7th Baronet (1778-1860), son of the famed caricaturist Henry William Bunbury. He was a distinguished British soldier and historian. Old damp stain and a slightly damaged first leaf. Stains continue through the first signature, and sometimes elsewhere, but not obtrusive. Stain and loss on the last four leaves. The printer's mark has a poor old repair that does diminish it's attractiveness. Still, a very typical classical work of the Incunabula era. Hardbound. Good. Suetonius (ca. 69-122 AD) was a Roman historian who was the private secretary of Emperor Hadrian. His work, De vita Caesarum [Concerning the Lives of the (Twelve) Caesars] survives almost in full. For each Emperor he tells a tale of each life that includes: their appearance; omens; family history; quotes; and then significant events. He covers: Julius Caesar; Augustus; Tiberius; Caligula; Claudius; Nero; Galba; Otho; Vitellius; Vespian; Titus; and Domitian. His work provides the best available history of the Julio-Claudians 30 B.C.-68 A.D. and the Flavians 69-96 A.D. In these records he does little to hide the sexual activities or moral depravity of the Roman court. and this element has made it an all-time best seller. Goff S-827; Hain-Copinger 15128; BMC V p. 521. CHEST 2/1. Hardcover. Very Good.