Eusebius Caesariensis, 12 January 1480

EUSEBIUS CAESARIENSIS (c.260–c.340). De evangelica praeparatione. Translated by Georgius Trapezuntius. Edited by Hieronymus Bononius. Treviso: Michael Manzolus, 12 January 1480.

An early edition of Eusebius' refutation of pagan theology. Considered the Father of Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius wrote his Preparation for the Gospels to survey various aspects of pagan cultures and to presage the need for Christian worship; it constitutes an important part of his wider intellectual defence of Christianity. Particularly fervent in targeting ancient Greek religion, Eusebius’ pedagogical work is an early attempt to carve out a place for Christianity in world history. It also preserves fragments of texts that otherwise would have been lost entirely, such as the Phoenician author Sanchuniathon’s writings and Bardaisan’s Dialogue on Fate. The Byzantine humanist Georgius Trapezuntius (1395–1486) translated many works from Greek, contributing to Classical reception including Eusebius’ writings in the 15th and 16th centuries. HC *6702; BMC VI 888; BSB-Ink E-117; Bod-inc E-050; CIBN E-95; GW 9443; Goff E-121; ISTC ie00121000.

Chancery folio (296 × 190mm). 106 leaves (of 108, without first and final blank leaves). Roman type, initials and paragraph marks in red (a little soiling and a marginal wormhole in first few leaves, a2 with small repaired hole affecting a few words, short marginal tear in i1, a few tiny wormholes in last two quires). 19th-century green vellum (edges slightly rubbed). Provenance: Hans (Jean) Fürstenberg (1890–1982, German bibliophile; bookplate) – [removed bookplate] – confiscated by the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, from Chateau Beaumesnil in 1940; restituted in 1949 (as mentioned in La Courneuve 32.069, Dossier 2632, Caisse 20, Restitutions).