ID 870876 
Lot 122  | [CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229).
Estimate value
£ 3 000 – 5 000 
Rerum romanarum... epitome authore Ioanne Xiphilino, in Greek. Paris: Robert Estienne, 1551.
William Cecil’s copy of the Editio princeps of Xiphilinus’s Epitome. Xiphilinus’s 11th-century abridgment of Dio’s history of Rome is ‘our only source for Dio’s lost books 61-80, dealing with the events from 47 to 235 A.D., the most important period of Roman imperial history’. Issue with Estienne’s name in the imprint. William Cecil (1520-1598) was the principal advisor to Elizabeth I through most of her reign. Adams D-513; Davenport p.98; Mortimer, Harvard French 170; Schreiber Estiennes 108: ‘beautifully printed’.
Quarto (249 x 161mm). Ornamental headpieces and initials, printer's device on title (minor chipping at lower margin of title, marginal tear in M4, some faint stains). Late-16th-century English calf, blind-ruled borders, blindstamped arms of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burleigh on upper and lower boards, binder’s waste composed of duplicated leaves from A tragicall historie of the troubles and ciuile warres of the lowe Countries, otherwise called Flanders. [London: Kyngston, 1583] (ESTC S111524) (rubbed, most heavily to corners and lower board, head and foot of spine defective). Provenance: William Cecil, 1st Baron Burleigh (1520-1598; binding; this work not found in the auction catalogue for the sale of part of his library on November 21 1687) – early inscription on title recording price of 3s.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
| Place of origin: | Western Europe, France, Europe | 
|---|---|
| Auction house category: | Printed books | 
| Place of origin: | Western Europe, France, Europe | 
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| Auction house category: | Printed books | 
| Address of auction | CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
| Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase | 
![[CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229). - photo 1 [CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229). - photo 1](/assets/image/picture_2585761/4e1af/ded4a04209bf4416a02a3c3c87e3e1901670972400jpg__fix_555_460.jpeg)
![[CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229). - photo 2 [CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229). - photo 2](/assets/image/picture_2585762/563a6/3ba43bbcf6a0fd80e5f75d750b4214de1670972400jpg__fix_555_460.jpeg)
![[CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229). - photo 3 [CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229). - photo 3](/assets/image/picture_2585763/35a0d/7eb75e47f1d28608451018eb6618a05d1670972400jpg__fix_555_460.jpeg)

![[CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229). - photo 1 [CECIL, William (1520-1598)] – DIO CASSIUS (c.155 - after 229). - photo 1](/cache/lot/870876/ded4a04209bf4416a02a3c3c87e3e190_1670972400-80x80_center_50.jpg)

