The Veatchs

[Title in Greek] Clementis ad Corinthios Epistola Prior.

Clement I, Pope.

Oxford, Johannes Lichfield, 1633. 6 1/4 x 8 3/4. (24), 76, (48), (2) pages printed in in black and red, with ornamental woodcut initials, headpieces, and tailpieces. The Epistle is printed with Latin and Greek in parallel columns, and the editor's restorations printed in red. Contemporary English sheep spine, later paper on the boards, mottled to imitate antique leather, edges speckled red. Corners & spine head quite worn; front hinge is open & the blank leaf is loose & stained, otherwise contents fresh. A handsome, large wide-margined copy. Item #18705

Printed in Sir Henry Saville's exquisite "Silver" Greek types. Savile, a Provost of Eton, was unable to procure a font of Estienne's Grecs du Roi for the Eton Chrysostom. So "he purchased abroad a special Greek font for the work, the preparation of which cost him the enormous sum (for those days) of £8000...This 'Silver Letter' was subsequently bequeather by SAvile to the University of Oxford, then loaned to the University of Cambridge, and has since been lost." (Updike, Printing Types II, 95) It is thought they were called "Silver Types" for their great beauty. Proctor gives a fascinating account of their origin in Transactions of the Bibliographical Society, Vol. VII.
Provenance: armorial bookplate (ca. 1900) of Harryson Baird; small "AHA" label at rear.
OCLC locates only 4 copies in the U. S.

Price: $1,200.00