Plutarch. Summi et Philosophi et Historici Parallela,

id est, Vitae Illustrium Virorum Graecorum et Romanorum, utilissima historia expositae, atque inter se comparatae. Guilielmo Xylandro Augustano interprete (...). Frankfurt, S. Feyerabendt, 1580. 2 parts in 1 vol. (2nd part w. separate title-p., Aemilii Probi, Scriptoris vere romani, vitae excellentium imperatorum: Ex veterun atque aliorum probatae fidei codicum collatione (...)). (8),373 lvs.,(31) p. (continuous pagination, lacking lvs. 8-9, some printer's errors in numbering, otherwise complete). Title printed in red and black w. large woodcut device (same device also on 2nd title-p., last p. of index), large woodcut coat of arms on first leaf of dedication, woodcut head pieces, initials, etc., total of 60 large woodcut ills., mostly of battle scenes, after J. Amman. Contemp. blindst. calf, slightly worn. Folio.

Contemp. marginal annotations and underlining throughout. First quire loosening, browning. In this famous work, Plutarch compares the lives of important Greek and Roman statesmen from Theseus to Marcus Antonius. He puts together couples who have similarities in their respective lives, e.g. Alexander the Great and Caesar, Demosthenes and Cicero, Pericles and Fabius Maximus, Alcibiades and Coriolanus, etc.