EXCEPTIONAL FIRST PRINTING OF THE WORKS OF PHILO JUDAEUS OF ALEXANDRIA, IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK, 1552: “THE HIGH POINT WAS PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA… WHO SOUGHT TO SHOW THAT THE BEST OF PAGAN PHILOSOPHY AGREED WITH THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES”

(JUDAICA) PHILO JUDAEUS. [Opera, i.e.] Philonis Iudaei in libros Mosis: De Mundi Opificio, Historicos, de Legibus. Eiusdem Libri Singulares. Ex bibliotheca regia [title also in Greek]. Paris: Adrien Turnebe, 1552. Folio (8-1/2 by 13-1/2 inches), contemporary full limp vellum; a6, A-Z8, a-y8, z4, 2A-2C6, 2D2.

First edition of the influential Jewish philosopher’s works in the original Greek, with many of the texts printed here for the first time, a superb example of French Renaissance typography bound in full contemporary vellum.

The Hellenistic Jewish Biblical philosopher Philo Judaeus (20 BC-50 AD) blended Greek philosophy and Judaism. “In the Diaspora, Judaism was forced to come to terms with Hellenism in a manner that could be avoided in Palestine itself… There was a movement within Judaism that sought to show the compatibility between the ancient faith and the best of Hellenistic culture… The high point of this entire tradition was Philo of Alexandria… who sought to show that the best of pagan philosophy agreed with the Hebrew Scriptures” (González I:13). According to Charles Duke Yonge, who translated this volume into English in the 19th century, these treatises prove Philo “deeply versed in Greek literature of every age and description, and of considerable skill in the sciences of music, geometry and astronomy… It is impossible to deny him the praise of acuteness and ingenuity, set off to their best advantage by neatness of language and felicity of expression.” French scholar-printer Adrian Turnebé, who was both Royal Reader in Greek and directory of the Imprimerie Royale, uncovered a trio of Greek manuscripts in the king’s library that he used to compile this volume. This represents a nearly complete collection of Philo’s surviving writings in Greek; a few surviving treatises are not gathered here, but mostly because they survived only in a Latin translation that had been printed in 1527. Text in Greek, with Index in Latin. Adams P1033. Ownership signature of “Joan. Shipton, Chirurg. Lond.” to top of title page; armorial bookplate of Fr. Dickins dated 1795.

Normal age-discoloration to vellum; very faint marginal dampstain to top of title page and occasionally within. A near-fine and most desirable copy in contemporary vellum. Scarce.