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a beautiful copy |
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"The ablest Commander of the most warlike People on Earth entertains You with the History of his own Campaigns. You are informed of the Motives which determined him in all his Enterprises, of the various Difficulties he had to encounter, and of the Steps by which in the end he was enabled to surmount all Opposition. In a Word, Prudence in Counsel, Courage and Intrepidity in the Field, a calm Presence of Mind in the midst of Dangers, and an amazing Dexterity in sudden and unforeseen Emergencies, are here exemplified in the Conduct of a Leader, whom all succeeding Ages have agreed to regard as the most finished Pattern of military Merit." -from the dedication by William Duncan |
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"It were doing the Work an Injury to suppose [the engravings] merely ornamental. For besides that they serve to illustrate the Antiquities, Habits and religious Ceremonies of the several Nations mentioned in the Commentaries; if it be considered, that the far greater number are Plans of Battles, Sieges, and Incampments... their great Subserviency towards a due Understanding of the History will abundantly appear. When the whole is subjected to the Eye in a distinct and accurate Delineation of every Circumstance, we become in a manner, Spectators of the Action." -William Duncan |
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(CAESAR, Julius). Duncan, William. The Commentaries of Caesar translated into English. To Which is Prefixed a Discourse Concerning the Roman Art of War. London: Tonson, Draper, and Dodsley, 1753. Folio, modern full panelled calf gilt in antique style, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, marbled endpapers. $8500. First edition of the "Duncan Caesar", the most beautiful and celebrated edition of Caesar’s Commentaries in English, complete with 86 magnificent large folio engravings (on 85 sheets) of maps, plans, battles, and scenes depicting various soldiers and customs of the world. Complete with the rare oversized bull engraving. A most impressive production. Slight offsetting on title from portrait, bull plate with a few small repaired closed tears, elephant plate with small closed tear at fold. An outstanding copy with text and plates exceptionally clean. Scarce in this condition. additional images, please click to enlarge:
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