Opera omnia, postremum ab ipso aucta et recensita.

4 vol., folio: [16 incl. engr. title]-clx-477-[1], 542-[1], 797-[1], 624-[236] pp.; 2 pl. (occ. spotting, mostly marginal, sm. wormtrack in upper bl. marg. of last part of vol. 2, some marg. dampstaining throughout vol. 3).

Contemp. blind-stamped vellum, labels on spines with raised bands (title labels partly missing, some soiling, stronger on spines, corners sl. bumped, upper turn-in of back board of vol. 3 partly unstuck).

Standard edition of Lipsius "Opera omnia", with an extensive subject index. Printed from 1633 onwards, in an edition of 1525 copies. Engr. ill.: magnificent allegorical title by C. Galle after P.P. Rubens (vol. I), large engr. Plantin printer's mark by C. Galle after P.P. Rubens (vol. II-IV; on the left Hercules as "Labor", on the right "Constantia"), portrait of Lipsius by Th. Galle, 2 folding views (Leuven, Heverlee) and ± 75 engr. in-text or full-page in vol. III, showing the ill. appearing in earlier Lipsius publications, i.a. Roman arms and war machines, crucifixions, Roman buildings, etc. The engr. title in vol. I shows a medallion portrait of Lipsius framed in a laurel wreath, with his motto "Moribus antiquis". It is flanked by the personifications of Philosophy and Politics, the two main themes of Lipsius' writings. Busts of Tacitus and Seneca, two authors edited by Lipsius, are accompanied by Mercury and "Prudence" (Tacitus), and Minerva and "Virtue" (Seneca). Underneath are Roman arms and war machines, and the she-wolf with Romulus and Remus. Rubens' drawing for this title page is now in the Plantin-Moretus Museum. Woodcut Plantin marks at the end. Titles in red & black (vol. II-IV).
Ref. BB III:1024-1028:L-407. - Bibl. Lips. Brux. 68. - Judson/VdVelde (Rubens) 73. - Bouchery & van den Wijngaert (P.P. Rubens en het Plantijnsche huis), pp. 97,141-142. - STCV 6608663.
Prov. Sir William Duguid Geddes (1828-1900), Scottish classical scholar and Principal at the University of Aberdeen (arm. bookpl.).