[AUGUSTINE, of Hippo]. D. Avrelii Avgvstini Hipponensis episcopi, omnivm opervm tomvs primvs: quo retractationvm libri duo, varique illius opuscula, quae versa pagella indicabit, continentur. Lugduni : apud Sebastianum Honoratum, M. D. LXIII. [1563].
Hardcover. Volume I. Full leather. Thick octavo, 8º, (180 x 110 x 75mm.), pp. [112], 1262. Latin text. Beautifully bound in contemporary blind stamped calf, spine with four raised bands. Initial and terminal blanks present. Later printed leaves added to pastedowns. Title-page woodcut printer's device. Index at front in double columns. Head- and tail-pieces. Historiated initials. Shoulder notes. Contains Saint Augustine’s Confessions, On Grammar, On Music, Principles of rhetoric, Soliloquies, On the Teacher, Morals of the Catholic Church, Against the Manichaeans.
Condition: Collated complete. Binding remarkably well preserved, the hinges secure, some light wear to extremities, lacking ties. Textblock with light toning and staining, some old sporadic inking and underscoring, a few leaves with worm tracts in the margins. Scarce.
Notes: Augustine of Hippo was a 5th-century early Christian church philosopher and theologian. While most known for his work ‘City of God’, he also wrote many other treatises on aspects of the Christian faith. His stance on free will vs predestination and fatalism was supported by and still is supported by, the Catholic Church, as his teachings on free will are consistent with modern doctrine. This particular tome includes Saint Augustine’s ‘Confessions’ – collection of shorter treatises that were autobiographical in nature. In fact, because of this, it is often considered the very first Western autobiography ever written. It features other works including: ‘On Grammar’ ‘On Music’ ‘Principles of rhetoric’ ‘Soliloquies’ ‘On the Teacher’ ‘Morals of the Catholic Church’ ‘Against the Manichaeans’.
