First Canterus edition, in Greek, of seven tragedies by Aeschylos: Prometheus, Hepta epi Thebais, Persai, Agamemnon, Choephoroi, Eumenides, and Iketides. The text has been much corrected, and the metre restored. The present edition also includes, for the first time, the rediscovered part of the prologue of Aeschylos's Choephoroi. The work is finely produced, mainly printed in a small Greek type, and adorned with charming small woodcut initials, several with animals or a human figure, and with fine arabesque woodcut head- and tail pieces.
The editor, Gulielmus Canterus (1542-1575), a brother of Theodorus (Dirk), was born in Utrecht, as stated on title, where he studied under George Macropedius. Only 12 years old, he went to study at the University in Louvain. When 16, he made a Grand Tour through France, Italy, and Germany, and studied at Paris with the celebrated professor in Greek, Johannes Auratus. Then he settled at Louvain, devoting his life to his studies, editing and translating into Latin a large number of Greek authors, for which he won great fame. The present edition of Aeschylos's tragedies, published posthumously by Plantin, is a true monument to Canterus's learning and acuteness.
With a later ownership annotation ("Jannes Sinclair") at the head of the title page, and a modern annotation from a previous seller on the verso of the first blank. The work has been recased, with new endpapers, the spine is somewhat rubbed, with some loss of material, the head of the spine has been restored, lacking the closing ties. The leaves are somewhat browned. Otherwise in good condition. Adams A-270; Belg. Typogr. 38; Dibdin I, p. 238; STC Dutch p. 2; STCV 12920582; USTC 407824; Voet, Plantin Press, 10.