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Constantini Porphyrogennetae 1617 Elzevier

Title: Constantini Porphyrogennetae Imperatris Opera. In Quibus Tactica Nunc Primum Prodeunt.
Author: Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, Emperor of the East, 905-959.
Description: Edited by Johannes van Meurs. [xvi], 58, [2 blank], 230, [2 blank], 45, [10], 307, [1] pp. (8vo) 7x4½, early full vellum, spine lettered by hand.Scarce Elzevier edition of Emperor Constantine VII's writings. In his book, A Short History of Byzantium, John Julius Norwich refers to Constantine VII as "The Scholar Emperor". Norwich states, "He was, we are told, a passionate collector--not only of books and manuscripts but works of art of every kind; more remarkable still for a man of his class, he seems to have been an excellent painter. He was the most generous of patrons--to writers and scholars, artists and craftsmen. Finally, he was an excellent Emperor: a competent, conscientious and hard-working administrator and an inspired picker of men, whose appointments to military, naval, ecclesiastical, civil and academic posts were both imaginative and successful." Willems 125; Rahir 102.
Heading: zzkPlace Published: Leiden
Publisher: Ex Officina Elzeviriana
Date Published: 1617

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This is a two day auction running Thursday 12/11 and Friday 12/12. Invoices will not be available before Monday 12/15.