Books and Manuscripts

[Caesar, Gaius Julius] Duncan, William
The Commentaries of Caesar, Translated into English. To which is prefixed a Discourse Concerning The Roman Art of War
London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper and R. Dodsley, 1753. First edition of Duncan's translation. Folio, 16 1/4 x 10 1/8 in. (413 x 257 mm). (xii), civ, 335, (1), (20) pp. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Caesar and 84 engraved plates (including 52 double-page, 23 single page, six folding maps, and three folding plates). Bound to style in full speckled tan paneled calf, red morocco spine label, stamped in black and in gilt; red speckled edges; spotting and offsetting to frontispiece and title-page; scattered light spotting to text and plates; folding Buffalo plate laid down on tissue, with loss of printed title at bottom; repaired closed tears in bottom edge of "Battle of the Elephants" plate, with separation in fold at bottom; in brown cloth fall-down-back box. ESTC T136453

An impressive first edition of William Duncan's great English translation of Caesar's commentaries on the Gallic and Civil Wars, featuring stunning engravings of battlefield scenes and plans, maps of Italy, Egypt, Spain, Britain, and Rome, depictions of Druid, Picts, and German soldiers, as well as the iconic image of the Wicker Man. This copy with the scarce large folding plate of the buffalo, not often found in most copies. A beautiful example.