P. Virgilii Maronis Opera interpretatione et notis illustravit Carolus Ruaeus Soc. Iesu… ad usum Serenissimi Delphini. Editio Secunda

Paris: Apud Simonem Benard, Ex Typographia Dionysii Thierry, 1682. SECOND EDITION of the Delphin Vergil; this issue was printed “Ex Typographia David Roger 1689.”. Hardcover. Fine. A very fine copy, bound in contemporary mottled calfskin, the spine elaborately and richly tooled in gold. The spine is separated into compartments by raised sewing supports. The second compartment bears a large red morocco label beautifully tooled in Roman capitals: “RUAEI VIRGILIUS”. The boards are framed by two decorative rules. The binding is in excellent condition with only light wear, the corners lightly bumped. Internally, the text is in very good condition, with occasional light foxing and toning. There is a small dampstain in the gutter in the first two signatures of the Aeneid. The engraved frontispiece, with a central scene showing Arion and the dolphin (an allusion to the Dauphin) and a medallion portrait of Vergil, is just a trifle foxed. Engraved vignettes introduce the Bucolics, Georgics & Aeneid. A pleasing copy of the Delphin Virgil, edited by the great Jesuit orator and classicist Charles de la Rue (Carolus Ruaeus) (1643-1725). The “Delphin Classics” were dedicated to Louis de France, “le Grand Dauphin” (1661-1711). The series was the work of thirty-nine scholars and was edited by Pierre-Daniel Huet, who was working with Jacques Bousset, tutor to the Dauphin.