Eugène Talbot - History of Greek Literature (1887) | Petite Collection Lemerre

French antiquarian work on the history of classical Greek literature by Eugène Talbot (1814-1894), published in Paris by Alphonse Lemerre. This copy belongs to the Petite Collection Lemerre and combines a compact format with a particularly well-preserved 19th-century publisher's binding.

Talbot examines the development of Greek literature from its earliest origins and places writers and genres within their historical context. It covers Homer, Greek mythology and religion, lyric poetry, tragedy, comedy, philosophy, and authors such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes. The book concludes with an extensive alphabetical index and table of contents.

The dark green cloth publisher's binding features gold-stamped titles, decorative border lines, and the characteristic vignette of publisher Alphonse Lemerre. Particularly decorative are the original deep red edges around the text block, which have remained remarkably well-preserved in colour.

The title page is dated M DCCC LXXXVII (1887), while the original Petite Collection Lemerre binding states "Paris 1890". The book is complete up to and including page 343, including the alphabetical index and table of contents.

A well-preserved and decorative 19th-century book for collectors of classical antiquity, Greek history, literary history, and French antiquarian books.

Details:

• Author: Eugène Talbot (1814-1894)
• Title: Histoire de la littérature grecque
• Publisher: Alphonse Lemerre
• Series: Petite Collection Lemerre
• Place of publication: Paris
• Title page date: 1887
• Publisher's binding date: Paris 1890
• Language: French
• Subject: history of Greek literature
• Extent: IV + 343 pages
• Binding: green cloth/percaline publisher's binding
• Decoration: gold- and black-stamped titles, borders, and publisher's vignette
• Edges: red-coloured all around
• Endpapers: light grey
• Dimensions: approx. 15.7 × 9.5 cm
• Thickness: approx. 2.7 cm
• Origin: France

Condition:
Good antiquarian condition. The original publisher's binding is firm and well-preserved, with light wear along the edges and corners and some superficial marks and signs of use on the boards. The gold lettering is largely bright and clear. The red edges have remained remarkably well-preserved in colour. The text block is firm and complete. The interior shows normal age-related discolouration and scattered light foxing and marks, but is otherwise well-legible and well-preserved. See the photos for a complete picture of the condition.