Henri Estienne's Herodian with the Editio Princeps of Zosimus.

Herodian & Zosimus. Editor Henri Estienne. ΗΡΩΔΙΑΝΟΥ ΙΣΤΩΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΒΙΒΛΙΑ . Η. Herodiani Histor. Lib. VIII. Cum Angeli Politiani Interpretatione, & huius partim Suplemento, partim Examine Henrici Stephani: utroque Margini adscripto. Eiusdem Henrici Stephani Emendationes quorundam Græci contextus Locorum, & quorundam Expositiones. Historiarum Herodianicas subsequentium Libri duo, nunc primùm Græcè editi. [Geneva]. excudebat Henricus Stephanus. 1581
Small 4to. pp. [viii], 182, [ii], 79, [i]. (editio princeps of Zosimus.) With woodcut Estienne device to title page. Parallel text in Greek and Latin.
Calf re-backed; 6 raised bands; gilt tooling matched to that of original boards red title label. Exlibris "Charlton Byam Wollaston "to front paste down; marbled end papers.
Described by Dibdin as 'an elegant, rare and critical edition', with notes and textual revisions by Henri Estienne. The Latin translation is Politian's, and that accompanying Zosimus is by Leunclavius.
This is the first edition of any part of Zosimus, although Estienne only printed the first two books. The volume was dedicated to Sir Philip Sidney.

"For this edition of Herodian … Estienne has thoroughly revised, and made additions to, the popular Latin translation of Angelo Poliziano; he prints his corrections, additions, and textual comments in the margins.
The second part consists of the editio princeps of the Roman history, written in Greek, by Zosimus, who wrote in the early sixth century, and whose work is our most important source for the period 395-410; Estienne has added his own Latin version" [Schreiber].
Zosimus is the main printed source for the British revolt of 409 AD and the 'Rescript of Honorius' Calf re-backed. Lightly toned.

Herodian or Herodianus ,Herodian of Antioch (c. 170 – c. 240),
was a minor Roman civil servant who wrote a colourful history in Greek titled History of the Empire from the Death of Marcus in eight books covering the years 180 to 238. His work is not entirely reliable although his relatively unbiased account of Elagabalus is more useful than that of Cassius Dio. He was a Greek (perhaps from Antioch) who appears to have lived for a considerable period of time in Rome, but possibly without holding any public office. From his extant work, we gather that he was still living at an advanced age during the reign of Gordianus III, who ascended the throne in 238. Beyond this, nothing is known of his life.

Herodian writes (i.1.§ 3, ii.15.§ 7) that the events described in his history occurred during his lifetime. Photius (Codex 99) gives an outline of the contents of this work and passes a flattering encomium on the style of Herodian, which he describes as clear, vigorous, agreeable, and preserving a happy medium between an utter disregard of art and elegance and a profuse employment of the artifices and prettinesses which were known under the name of Atticism, as well as between boldness and bombast. He appears to have used Thucydides as a model to some extent, both for style and for the general composition of his work, often introducing speeches wholly or in part imaginary. In spite of occasional inaccuracies in chronology and geography, his narrative is in the main truthful and impartial However, some charge him with showing too great a partiality for Pertinax
Brunet 3:120; Graesse 3:253; Dibdin II:15; Adams H-388; Renouard 149/7; Schreiber 209; 250 by 165mm (9¾ by 6½ inches).   ref: 2993  €1500