4to. (XIV),183,(3 blank) p. (recte 181,(3 blank) p.) Calf 24 cm (Ref: Schweiger 2,346; Moss 1,436: 'edited by the celebrated Madame Dacier'; Brunet 2,1115; Fabricius/Ernesti 3,136; Graesse 2,529; Ebert 7181; La collection Ad Usum Delphini, 2, 304/12) (Details: Back gilt & with 5 raised bands; brown shield in second compartment. Some woodcut initials, headpieces and cul-de-lampes. Engraved coat of arms of the Dauphin at the beginning of the dedication) (Condition: Binding rubbed & worn at extremities. Corners bumped. The title leaf has been strengthened in the inner margin with a very small strip of paper. A tear in the outer margin has been repaired skillfully.) (Note: The minor Roman historian Eutropius, probably from Gaul, took part in the campaign of the emperor Julian against the Persians (A.D. 363), and later was 'magister memoriae' of the emperor Valens. He wrote at the request of Valens a survey in 10 books, the 'Breviarium ab urbe condita', of Roman history down to the death of the emperor Jovian in 364 A.D. Eutropius wrote in a clear and simple style. The work is short and well balanced, showing good judgement and impartiality. This short history of Rome has however little historical value, but it is occasionally useful where sources are lost. Eutropius was consulted by later christian writers. (OCD 2nd ed. p. 424/5) § This Eutropius edition of 1683 was published for the education of the Dauphin (in usum Delphini), the young crown prince of France, Louis of France, who was born in 1661 as the eldest son of Louis XIV, King of France. His title was, as the heir apparent to the throne, Dauphin (Delphinus). (As he died before his father, he never became king) Great care was bestowed on the editing and printing of the series. 39 editions of Latin authors, from Cicero to Ausonius, also difficult ones like Festus and Manilius, were published by leading or promising French scholars. The series was also meant for a broader public (des honnêtes gens) and offered introductions, reliable and readable texts, easy interpretations, and philological, educational and historical notes without too much philological niceties or textual criticism. The series was a huge success. § The editor of this Eutropius edition is Anne Lefèvre, 1654-1720, the daughter of the French classical scholar Tanneguy Lefèvre (Tanaquillus Faber), who was professor at the protestant Academy at Saumur. After his death in 1672 she moved to Paris, where she began a career by publishing editions of classical authors. In 1683 she married André Dacier, a former pupil of her father, and so became the famous Madame Dacier. Together with her husband she abjured her Protestant faith in 1685. She produced 3 other editions in the 'Ad usum Delphini' series, Florus (1674), Dictys Cretensis (1680), and Aurelius Victor (1681). In the 'praefatio' Anne Lefèvre stresses that Eutropius wrote in a clear and simple style, and that he was very fit for schoolboys. 'Eutropius reliquis (historicis) praestantior, teneraeque puerorum aetati convenientior: nam praeterquam stilo plano est & facili, etsi quandoque minus puro, tempora omnia accurate ponit (...)'. (Praefatio p. ê recto) She did not consult manuscripts or older editions, but based her edition on that of her father, which was published in 1672. 'En revanche, les notes d'érudition abondent'. (La collection Ad Usum Delphini, 2,308) The editor/commentator gives much information on geography, history, chronology, and often rectifies errors of Eutropius. Much attention is paid to Roman civilization in the notes, such as Roman games, the toga, triumphus, Ides, adoption, the Roman army. The edition of 1683 was a great success, for most 18th century shool editions of Eutropius were based on Anne Lefèvre's work) (Collation: â4 (minus blank eaf â4), ê4, A-Z4 (leaf Z4 blank)) (Photographs on request)