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4°, contemporary mottled sheep (very small piece missing from upper joint at head of spine; other minor wear to extremities; single small round wormhole near head of spine), spine richly gilt with raised bands in six compartments, crimson morocco lettering piece in second compartment from head, gilt letter, marbled endleaves, pink silk ribbon place marker, text-block edges rouged. Fine allegorical engraving on title page of Athena. Engraved plate showing family tree of Roman rulers from Julius Caesar to Nero (facing p. 28). Engraved vignette of a medal on p. 384 (see below). Woodcut headpieces, tailpieces, and initials. Overall in very good condition; internally fine. (20 ll.), 440 pp., 1 engraved plate. *** Seventh edition, finely printed by Sancha, of an enormously popular textbook on secular and ecclesiastical history. It went through many editions after its first appearance in 1743; the latest we have seen is 1854. This is Florez's first historical work. It preceded by several years Art de verifier les dates, a very similar work in French. After a historical overview of eras, the work consists of century-by-century lists of important events and figures (saints, popes, rulers, writers, heretics, etc.). The introductory leaves include a substantial essay on Lucifer, Bishop of Cagliari (Sardinia, d. 370 or 371), who was known for his vehement opposition to Arianism and remains a controversial figure within the Catholic Church. The focus of the Clave is on Europe, although there are scattered references to America, Brazil, Cuba, and the Indies, e.g., pp. 310-16.The engraved vignette on the title page shows Minerva with helmet and aegis, holding a spear, seated in an arched bower. Facing p. 28 is an engraving showing the descent of the Julio-Claudians ("Genealogia de los Cesares"), with the names set in wreaths (for emperors), flowers, or leaves. On p. 384, an engraving (5 x 9 cm.) shows a medal struck in 1739 to commemorate the British victory at Porto Bello, Panama, over the Spanish during the War of the Austrian Succession (or the War of Jenkins' Ear).Henrique Florez de Setién y Huidobro (Valladolid, 1701-Madrid, 1773) became an Augustinian at age 15 and taught theology at the University of Alcalá. Following the Clave historial, Florez began publication of España Sagrada, teatro geografico-historico de la Iglesia de España, a compilation of Spanish ecclesiastical history that was particularly valuable because it included transcriptions of many chronicles not easily available elsewhere. Florez published 29 volumes during his lifetime; it was later completed in 51 volumes, at the expense of the Spanish government.*** Rodriguez-Moniño 14. Palau 92701. This edition not in Whitehead, BL Eighteenth-Century Spanish STC. Not in Whitehead, "Antonio de Sancha . Holdings in . British Library" in The British Library Journal, IX, 2 (Autumn 1983). This edition not in Jisc, which lists 1-2 copies each of the editions of 1749, 1760, 1765, 1780, 1786, 1790, 1854. Seller Inventory # 37723
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