Thesaurus Graecae linguae. [Geneva]: Henri Estienne, [1572]. 5 volumes bound in 4. Folio (355 x 217 mm). 20, xx, [2] pp + v-xxiv, 1946 columns; [4] pp + v-xii, 1700 columns; [2] pp + 5-1793 + [2 blank] columns; [2] pp + 834 columns; [2] pp + 5-1746, [2 blank], 212 columns. Initial letter at beginning of each section enclosed within a woodcut cartouche. Second issue.
WITH: Glossaria duo, è situ vetustatis eruta.... 1573. 8 pp + 666 columns + [8], 13-247 pp.
WITH: SCOTT, DANIEL. Appendix ad Thesaurum Graecae Linguae ab Hen. Stephano constructum. London: J. Noon, 1745. BOUND WITH: BURNEY. Appendix ad Lexicon Graeco-Latinum a Joanne Scapula.... London: Leigh & Sotheby, 1789. 2 works bound together in 2 vols. [8] pp + 1254 columns; [4] pp + 1312 columns; [8], 156 pp.
Together, 7 volumes. Double column, Greek and roman type. Estienne books with woodcut devices on titles and decorative initials and headpieces. Uniform early 19th century diced calf, gilt-ruled, rebacked. Occasional toning, some pale corner dampstain at end of vol 3, ownership inscription on title of Glossaria, corners showing, modern rebacking.
Provenance: James Thomas Law of Lichfield (ownership inscription dated 1854 to vol 1).

FIRST EDITION OF HENRI ESTIENNE'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT WITH SCHOLARLY ADDITIONS TO TWO CENTURIES LATER. Henri Estienne's Greek dictionary is the bedrock of his reputation as one of the greatest classical scholars who ever lived. Henri began this work with his father, Robert, who had published a Dictionarium seu latinae linguae thesaurus in 1531, but was left to complete it and to publish it at his own expense after his father's death in 1559. "There has been to this day no substitute to the Thesaurus Graecus" (PMM).
From a financial perspective the Thesaurus was ruinous for Henri, he had spared no expense (his xylographic Greek signature appears here for the first time) and sales were hurt by the coincidence of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. This set is accompanied by the Glossaria and by Scott's rare appendix (printed in a very few copies). Scapula was Estienne's dishonest assistant who abridged this work for his own, cheaper lexicon. Adams S1791 & S1770; PMM 62 note; Renouard pp 134-40.