THE TRUE HISTORIE OF LUCIAN THE SAMOSATENIAN.
- London: The Golden Cockerel Press, 1927.
- 4to.
- quarter Niger over light brown cloth, top edge gilt, later cloth slipcase
- (iv), 43, (2) pages.
- ISBN: none
Price: $2,500.00 other currencies
Order Nr. 60561
Limited to 275 numbered copies. (Chanticleer 53). This particular copy bares the exlibris bookplate of the private library of the Golden Cockerel Press on the front pastedown. Lower corner lightly bumped. Only the slightest hint of wear to the head and tail of the spine. A beautiful copy. Bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. In his True History, which begins by warning the reader that its events are completely untrue and impossible, Lucian describes a voyage that starts on the sea, continues in the skies, and includes visits to the belly of a whale and to the Elysian fields. The tale is a satirical parody of ancient traveler's tales that strain human credulity. This edition includes a translation from Greek into English by Francis Hickes. Printed together with the Greek and decorated with wood engravings by Robert Gibbings. The text of the Greek, set with the assistance of the Oxford University Press, is that of the Jacobitz edition (1852). The English is taken from the first edition (1634) in the British Museum. One of the finest of Robert Gibbings works with 55 wood engravings, some viewed at the time as extremely erotic. David Jones designed the decorated cock. With an introduction by J.S. Phillimore.