![THUCYDIDES (c.460-c.400 BCE). [On the Peloponnesian War,] in Greek. Edited by Aldus Manutius. Venice: Aldus Manutius, 14 May 1502.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/CKS/2018_CKS_16019_0177_000(thucydides_on_the_peloponnesian_war_in_greek_edited_by_aldus_manutius075713).jpg?w=1)
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THUCYDIDES (c.460-c.400 BCE). [On the Peloponnesian War,] in Greek. Edited by Aldus Manutius. Venice: Aldus Manutius, 14 May 1502.
The editio princeps of 'the work that formed the standards for historiography and political science in the West' (The Greek Book). In the introduction to his account of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides declares his history to be 'not for the taste of an immediate public, but intended as a thing for all time' (I.22). A pioneer of objectivity and critical analysis for the evaluation of history – or, perhaps, 'in the subtle manipulation of data into evidence under the guise of objectivity' (The Greek Book), Thucydides’s influence can be felt in the works of thinkers and politicians from Machiavelli to John F. Kennedy. Aldus edited the text from a Cretan manuscript, Paris BnF suppl. gr. 256 (or perhaps a close copy). Ahmanson-Murphy 57; Renouard 33:4; The Greek Book 33; see PMM 102.
Folio (315 x 204mm). Greek and Roman types (some light spotting). 19th-century brown diced russia gilt (wear to joints and edges). Provenance: William Amhurst Tyssen-Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst of Hackney (1835-1909, father of famous archaeologist Mary Cecil, 2nd Baroness; armorial bookplate).
The editio princeps of 'the work that formed the standards for historiography and political science in the West' (The Greek Book). In the introduction to his account of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides declares his history to be 'not for the taste of an immediate public, but intended as a thing for all time' (I.22). A pioneer of objectivity and critical analysis for the evaluation of history – or, perhaps, 'in the subtle manipulation of data into evidence under the guise of objectivity' (The Greek Book), Thucydides’s influence can be felt in the works of thinkers and politicians from Machiavelli to John F. Kennedy. Aldus edited the text from a Cretan manuscript, Paris BnF suppl. gr. 256 (or perhaps a close copy). Ahmanson-Murphy 57; Renouard 33:4; The Greek Book 33; see PMM 102.
Folio (315 x 204mm). Greek and Roman types (some light spotting). 19th-century brown diced russia gilt (wear to joints and edges). Provenance: William Amhurst Tyssen-Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst of Hackney (1835-1909, father of famous archaeologist Mary Cecil, 2nd Baroness; armorial bookplate).
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