592J Eusebius of Caesarea    (275-339 AD)

The Avncient Ecclesiasticall Histories of the First Six Hvndred Yeares After Christ, written in the Greeke tongue by three learned Historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. Evsebivs Pamphilvs Bishop of Cæsarea in Palæstina uurote 10. bookes. Socrates Scholasticvs of Constantinople uurote 7. bookes. Evagrivs Scholasticvs of Antioch uurote 6. bookes. VVhereunto is annexed Dorothevs Bishop of Tyrus, of the liues and endes of the Prophetes, Apostles and 70. disciples. All which authors are faithfully translated out of the Greeke tongue and now perused and corrected by Meredith Hanmer, Doctor of Diuintie. Last of all herein is contained a briefe Chronographie collected by the said Translator, with a copius Index of the Principall matters throughout all the Histories.

London : Printed by Richard Field, dwelling in the Blackfriers, 1607.                                          Price $1,900

Title page of 'The Ancient Ecclesiastical Histories of the First Six Hundred Years After Christ', printed in 1607, featuring intricate typography and a decorative emblem.

Folio 27x 19 cm; Signatures: ¶⁶ A-2I⁶ 2K-2M⁴ 2N-3E⁶ 3F⁴. Third edition. The first edition was printed in 1577 by Vautrollier. Bound in full modern calf. A nice copy with a large publisher’s emblem of an anchor held by the hand of God entwinned with laural branches in a baroque cartouche frame motto Anchora Spei . In total there are 5 titlepages with the same publisher’s woodcut in two sizes.

“In his Church History, Eusebius attempted according to his own declaration to present the history of the Church from the apostles to his own time, with special regard to the following points: (1) the successions of bishops in the principal sees; (2) the history of Christian teachers; (3) the history of heresies; (4) the history of the Jews; (5) the relations to the heathen; (6) the martyrdoms. He grouped his material according to the reigns of the emperors, presenting it a she found it in his sources. The contents are as follows: After a detailed introduction, which treats of Jesus Christ, comes the history of the apostolic time to Trajan; books iv. and v. treat of the second century; book vi. of the time from Severus to Decius; book vii. extends to the outbreak of the persecution under Diocletian; book viii. treats of this persecution; book ix. brings the history to the victory over Maxentius in the West and over Maximinus in the East; book x. relates the re-establishment of the churches and the rebellion and conquest of Licinius. In its present form the work was brought to a conclusion before the death of Crispus (July, 326), and, since book x. is dedicated to Paulinus of Tyre who died before 325, at the end of 323 or 324. This work required the most comprehensive preparatory studies, and it must have occupied him for years. His collection of martyrdoms of the older period may have been one of these preparatory studies. The authenticity of Eusebius’ Church History is beyond dispute. Every new discovery shows anew the conscientious, carefull and intelligent use of the libraries of Caesarea and Jerusalem.” (Schaff-Herzog)

STC (2nd ed.), 10574. ESTC Link. https://datb.cerl.org/estc/S121379

A historical text titled 'A Chronographie, with a Supputation of the Yeares from the Beginning of the World' from 1607, featuring ornate decorative elements and an emblem at the bottom.
A close-up view of the spine of a vintage book titled 'EVSEBIUS HISTORIES', with a rich brown leather cover and a distinctive orange label.
An old printed page with handwritten style text discussing historical events, translation of histories, and the importance of faith and truth.
An old text excerpt discussing the history of the early Christian Church, referencing the work of historians and emphasizing the importance of truth and faith.

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