8vo. 2 volumes in 1: Ad 1: (XVI),CCCIX,(1 blank),(23 index),(1); LXXV,(1 blank),(10),CCXVI,(22 = index),(4),84 (recte 80) p. Ad 2: (XXIV),171,(1) p. H.leather. 17 cm (Ref: Ad 1: GLN-3651; Schweiger II,1135; Bernays, see p. 258/59 & 279; Ad 2: A. Cartier, Bibliographie des éditions des Tournes, no. 185; Schweiger I,18) (Details: 2 Back with 5 raised bands, and a black shield; Ad 1: 'Veritas' printer's device on the title: a woman, the naked truth, seated on a cubus, holding a radiant sun in her right hand. In her left hand she holds an opened book and a palm leaf. Her feet rest on the globe; the garland of fruit which surrounds her shows a ribbon with a motto in Greek: 'Alêtheia Pandamatôr', i.e. 'Allmighty Truth'. Ad 2: completely printed in italics; engraved printer's mark on title, a 'Ouroboros', with motto: 'quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris', type no. 5. (See Cartier p. 40); Prism mark, type d on the verso of the last leaf, with motto 'Nescit labi virtus' (See Cartier p. 42) (Condition: Back rubbed; corners bumped; paper on covers slightly worn; a few small wormholes in the second half of the first work only; occasional faint pencil underlinings; old ownership entry at the upper margin of the title of Asconius erased; first title slightly soiled) (Note: Ad 1: Festus is a 2nd century abbreviator of a lost lexicographic work by Marcus Verrius Flaccus, dating from the first century B.C. Remains of his work survive in Festus; J.J. Scaliger, 1540-1609, produced a highly acclaimed edition in 1575. He was praised for his success at completing blank portions of the Farnese manuscript. The editor uses both Paulus Diaconus and Festus for a reconstruction of the text in strict alphabetical order, from A to V; Bernays tells us that the 216 pages with the 'Castigationes' of Scaliger are 'unverändert abgedruckt' in this edition of 1593 (Bernays p. 279). Scaliger's notes are followed by the notes of lesser gods, but nevertheless 'docti viri'. Ad 2: Asconius Pedianus, probably 3-88 A.D, produced for his sons a historical commentary on a number of the orations of the Roman politician/orator Cicero, the Verrines, pro Cornelio, contra M. Antonium & Catilinam, contra Pisonem, pro Scauro, & pro Milone. François Hotman, 1524-1590, was a French protestant jurist and author) (Provenance: Engraved bookplate of Jonkheer Henri de Brauw, depicting his coat of arms) (Collation: Festus: q - 2q8, a - v8 x8 (minus x8 blank); A - V8 X2; 2A - 2E8 2F2. Asconius: a - m8 n4 (lacking the blanks n3 and n4) (Photographs on request)