Turnèbe's Noteworthy Edition of Sophocles's Tragedies

Sophocles; Demetrius Triclinius, ed. SOPHOKLEOUS TRAGODIAI. AIAS MASTIGOPHOROS. ELEKTRA. OIDIPOUS TYRANNOS. ANTIGONE. OIDIPOUS EPI KOLONO. TRACHINIAI. PHILOKTETES. DEMETRIOU TOU TRIKLINIOU PERI METRON OIS ECHRESATO SOPHOKLES, PERI SCHEMATON, SCHOLIA. Paris: Adrianus Turnebus, 1553 (colophon on 2C4 states 1552). First thus. Part 1 only (lacking pt. 2, *2-x4). Later gilt tooled and paneled morocco, gilt tooled spine with raised bands, red leather at paste-down, marbled free endpapers. 4to; *4 A-N4 06 (O6 blank) P-V4 X6 Y-Z4 a-d4 e2 f-m4 n6 o-s4 t6 v-z4 Aa-Cc4; [8] 400 (i.e. 404)pp. (several pages mis-numbered). Text in Greek, with imprint and colophon in Latin. Printed marginalia, printer's device on title page, woodcut initials. Adams S1445; USTC 154217.
9 x 6 3/4 in.
Adrien Turnèbe (Adrianus Turnebus) (French, 1512-1565) was a professor, scholar, and printer. He devoted the last decade of his life to printing ancient Greek texts while serving as Typographus Regius (the King's Printer).

The work of Sophocles was first published by the Aldine Press in 1502, with this next edition by Turnèbe following fifty years later. It is particularly noteworthy for the commentary and annotations from 14th-century scholar Demetrius Triclinius who was known for his knowledge of classic Greek texts.
From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.
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Boards scuffed, corners rubbed, with discoloration, wear and cracking at joint with binding still strong; bookplate on recto and verso of free endpaper, partial separation at tail of marble front flyleaf; title page with ink manuscript, small loss at corner, edge chips; cracking at rear hinge; pages toned, foxed, and with damp stains, occasional marginalia, tears, and small scattered stains.