[Iamblichou Chalkideos Tes Koiles Syrias Logoi Dyo] = Iamblichi Chalcidensis Ex Syria Coele De Vita Pythagorae, & Protrepticae Orationes Ad Philosophiam Lib. II :
Iamblichus; Arcerius, Joannes Theodoretus, editor
[franeker or Heidelberg] Aegidius Radaeus for Commelin 1598
Leather 4to 11" - 13" tall [16], 224, 176, 80 pp. The editio princeps of the first and second book of late antique Neoplatonist Iamblichus’s 10 volume work on Pythagorism Greek text with Latin translation in parallel columns. A small quarto, 8" x 6.5", in calf with gilt ruling, floriated corner decorations, spine with 5 raised bands and gilt decorations in the compartments. Joints cracking, edges rubbed, spine top and tail chipped. Interior first free end paper has a few old owner inscriptions, paper lightly toned, ink marginalia in Greek and Latin especially in the first of the 3 parts, including a small geometric figure on P1. Dd2 has small margin hole, BB has corner missing, but otherwise intact and in nice condition. Lovely head and tail pieces, some Pythogorian charts and diagrams. Latin translation by Joannes Arcerius Theodoretus (1538-1604) , a Frisian professor of Greek at the University of Franeker, of Iamblichus's biography of Pythagoras. The book includes Iamblichus’s Protrepticus, which preserved the work of the otherwise unknown 5th-century BCE Sophist knowns as the “Anonymous Iamblichi." Arcerius had discovered an unknown manuscript of Iamblichus while touring in France and arranged to have it published by the printer to the University of Franeker, Aegidius Radaeus (Gilles van de Rade) as seen in the colophons. The title page gives no place of printing but gives the printer as Bibliopolio Commeliniano. The Commelin family were major printers in Heidelberg, but the printer often associated here, Jerome Commelin, died the year before this work was printed. However, the printers' mark is clearly that of Commelin with "naked truth" seated, surrounded by fruits and a banner with "truth, the all-subduer" in Greek. Colophons: p. [24] last sequence: "Excudebat Aegidius Radaeus ordinum Frisiae typographus Franekerae, ann. M. D. XCVIII. XVIII. Cal. Septemb." ; p. 80 last sequence: "Excudebat Aegidius Radaeus ordinum Frisiae typographus Franekerae, ann. M. D. XCVIII. X. Cal. Decemb. “ Iamblichus (c. A. D. 250-325) is among the most important of the so-called Neoplatonic philosophers, second only to Plotinus and the biographer of the Greek mystic, philosopher, and mathematician Pythagoras. Iamblichus founded a school near Antioch, a city known for its Neoplatonic philosophers, where he designed a curriculum for studying Plato and Aristotle, and wrote commentaries on the two which survive only in fragments. Pythagoras was his supreme interest, and he wrote the ten-volume Collection of Pythagorean Doctrines with extracts from several ancient philosophers; only the first four volumes and fragments of the fifth survive. A nice copy of the editio princeps of this important work. OCLC 931246999



WE ARE LOCATED IN CANADA but we can ship using USPS



International Customers -- we may be able to ship more cheaply than we show - please e-mail us to see what we can offer to your location.

US Customers - We ship twice or more a week using the US Postal Service via our courier from Canada to our mailing address in New York and then on to US addresses.We are able to offer competitive rates with this service, but if you require quicker shipping, please inquire. For books over $799 we may ship via CanadaPost from Toronto.

Canadian customers -- we may have to charge HST/GST for Canadian purchases (generally 5% for books). However, shipping is generally lower than on ebay's shipping cost calculator. Email me with your province and I'll be happy to calculate HST and shipping.


We are happy to combine shipping! For our international customers, import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up -- do not confuse them with additional shipping charges. We really cannot show merchandise below value or mark items as "gifts" - it can get us into all kinds of trouble with customs. Since Brexit, shipping to the UK may require a VAT invoice.

We have been selling books for over 20 years and pack and ship them with care.




Thanks for bidding and thanks for being a fellow book lover. See our other listings for more unusual and rare books.