Description: Offered is Homer's Odyssey printed in Greek and Latin with unbelievably tiny text for the time. I believe that this two-volume set was actually a student's copy and a pre-1783 reprint of the "1609 Apud Iohan Vignon" edition. They are 3" X 4.5" X 1" and bound in paper and leather, with Hi and H2 in gilt on the spines. Each is inscribed on the first page in ink, "The gift of the Rev. Wm. Bentley to Ja. Winthrop" but not dated. Judging by the way the ink has run on one copy, I believe that they were signed at roughly the same time and then closed together, with the ink on the last copy signed still wet. William Bentley and James Winthrop's personal connection and historical significance may be explored on google, which I highly recommend. Incredibly, they were inscribed less than ten years after the American Revolution. Jane Westerfield, of Allegheny College was nice enough to reply to my inquiry as follows: "William Bentley was ordained a Unitarian minister in 1783. After graduating from Harvard in 1777, he was a Latin and Greek tutor at Harvard until 1783. James Winthrop was the Harvard Librarian between 1780-1787 and knew Bentley during that period. With Bentley using the "Rev" inscription, the books must have been given to Winthrop between 1783 and 1787 but most likely in 1783." The book has wear to the paper and leather bindings as expected but the covers are still attached. I believe that the books are complete but that is uncertain. Note however, that H1 ends on page 466 and H2 begins with page 467, with no pages before it. There may be pages missing or it was intentional. It is interesting that Bentley had the second largest personal library in the country at the time, second only to Thomas Jefferson. In the beautiful condition shown with any damage or imperfection described and shown in the photos. Your satisfaction is guaranteed in any case since if you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, I will refund the initial shipping fee and also pay the return shipping cost for a truly risk-free purchase. SORRY, NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING DUE TO PREVIOUS LOSSES.
Price: 425 USD
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida
End Time: 2025-01-16T13:31:59.000Z
Shipping Cost: 10 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Binding: Hardcover
Language: Greek and Latin
Signed: Yes
Special Attributes: Harvard U. in 1783
Author: Homer
Personalized: Yes
Region: North America
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Topic: Historical
Subject: Literature & Fiction
Original/Facsimile: Original
