DE OFFICIIS; DE SENECTUTE; DE AMICITIA; PARADOXA; SOMNIUM SCIPIONIS
Gorgeous miniature edition of this collection of philosophical classics by the great Roman lawyer and statesman.
Very good plus.
Price: $3,000.00
DE OFFICIIS; DE SENECTUTE; DE AMICITIA; PARADOXA; SOMNIUM SCIPIONIS
"For who would dare to call himself a philosopher, if he took no cognizance of duty?"
Cicero, the "new man" who was the first in his family to achieve the highest political position in the Republic-era Senate, the consulship, was also a tireless bibliophile and author. He kept up his reputation in part by publishing speeches made in the Forum, but his literary endeavors extended far beyond politics. This collection gathers five of his best known philosophical works into an impressively small palm-sized volume.
The earliest composed work in the collection is SOMNIUM SCIPIONIS [The Dream of Scipio], the famed final portion of Cicero's DE RE PUBLICA, a Roman version of Plato's REPUBLIC. His circa 46 BCE PARADOXA, better known as PARADOXA STOICORUM [Stoic Paradoxes], was dedicated to Brutus, (later) doomed Republican and assassin of Caesar. DE OFFICIIS [On Duties], DE SENECTUTE [On Old Age], and DE AMICITIA [On Friendship] were all composed in 44 BCE, the year of Caesar's killing and only months before Cicero's own political assassination. DE OFFICIIS is considered his final masterpiece, written as a letter of advice his son, but in truth a pensive cri de coeur against the political chaos of the waning Republic.
A tiny powerhouse of thought from one of ancient Rome's most important authors — in a handsome contemporary binding.
The Object
Amsterdam: Guiljel I. Caesium, 1625. 32mo, 2.75'' x 1.75''. Contemporary full maroon goatskin, raised bands, gilt rules, gilt-stamped monogram "PI" to spine compartments. Marbled pastedowns, all edges gilt. Engraved title page. Index at rear. 428, [10] pages. A couple early ink annotations; pencil notes to final blank. Light rubbing to extremities, a couple spots to text block edges. Engraved title a little soiled, else interior clean. Solid.
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