Estienne - Dictionarium Latinogallicum - 1553

Latin-Gallic Dictionary: A Masterpiece of Lexicography from the Renaissance
The Latin-Gallic Dictionarium, published in Paris in 1552 by Charles Estienne, royal printer, represents one of the pinnacles of Renaissance lexicography. This monumental work, enriched and expanded compared to previous editions, is described as 'valde locupletatum' and establishes itself as an essential tool for learning and translating between Latin and French. It is not merely a vocabulary but a true encyclopedia of the language, aimed at students, scholars, and jurists, capable of bridging classical heritage with modern usage. The typographic elegance of the Estienne workshop and the clarity of its two-column layout make this volume a typographical masterpiece as well as a scientific one.
Market value
The sixteenth-century editions of Charles Estienne's Dictionarium are rare and highly sought after. A complete copy of the 1552 edition, in folio, can be valued between 2,000 and 4,000 euros, depending on its condition and binding. Copies with trimmed edges or material defects are priced around 1,500 euros, while copies in excellent condition with contemporary binding and intact beautiful woodcut initials can reach 5,000 euros in international sales.

Physical description and condition
Fresh interior pages and well-inked, subsequent binding in full leather, spine with nerves, detached boards with some abrasions and signs of use. Frontispiece with the famous typographic mark Estienne (the tree with the motto Noli altum sapere). Red ink spots. Text arranged in two columns in Roman type. Paper with some browning and slight humidity stains. In ancient books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp. (4); 1430; (4).

Full title and author
Latin-Gallic Dictionary, greatly enriched in this latest edition.
Lutetiae, at Charles Stephanus, 1553.
Charles Estienne

Brief biography of the author
Charles Estienne (1504-1564), member of the famous Parisian typographic dynasty, was a doctor, grammarian, lexicographer, and also a Typographus Regius. He published important editions of medical, humanist, and linguistic texts. His work in the field of lexicography marks a fundamental milestone in the development of bilingual dictionaries. His typography was distinguished by precision, clarity, and graphic refinement, helping to establish the Estienne family's reputation as masters of European publishing.

Printing history and circulation
The Latin-Gallic Dictionary experienced multiple editions throughout the 16th century. The first edition dates back to earlier years, but the 1552 edition is one of the most rich and up-to-date, 'greatly enriched,' and became a model for subsequent reprints. Its circulation was extensive: it was present in major French and European university and college libraries, and remained a reference text for over a century.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Adams S 1780
Renouard, Annales des Estienne, pp. 79-81.
Graesse II, 386
Brunet II, 707
ICCU-SBN, copies in Italian libraries