1559 ILLUSTRATED EDITION of "Commentarii" (Commentaries) by Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BC- 44 BC), also known simply as the "De Bello Gallico" (The Gallic War). The most famous writing of Julius Caesar, Roman general, politician and writer of the 1st century BC. This is his and his generals' account, over eight years, of the conquest of Gaul (France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, Egypt, Africa...), his military stratagems, civil war, battle plans (notably his major victory against Vercingetorix at the battle of Alesia), the analysis of the European peoples/tribes and their peculiarities. Richly illustrated with two large double-page maps of France, Spain and Portugal and 5 full-page illustrations such as Caesar's bridge over the Rhine River, details of the fortifications of some cities including Avaricum (Bourges), the Gallic city of Alesia, the Gallic fortified settlement of Uxelloduno near Vayrac, the city of Massiglia or Marseille in France etc... Here in one of the best translations of the 16th century, edited and corrected by Paolo Manuzio son of Aldo Manuzio based on the original (December 1513) made by Giovanni Giocondo da Verona (1433-1515), an Italian humanist, military engineer, Dominican friar and architect in France for Kings Charles VIII and Louis XII, as well as being chief architect for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and consultant to Raphael. Beautiful early 1700s full-leather binding, with friezes and decorations on the spine. COMPLETE 1559 BOOK WITH ALL THE ILLUSTRATIONS. 1559 COMPLETE EDITION, NO COPIES FOR SALE, is currently the oldest edition of Caesar's "De Bello Gallico" on sale. All other editions derive from the editions of Aldus Manutius and his translators, who produced the best editions of Caesar. The volume includes all of Caesar's most famous writings; with 8 books/notebooks for the "De Bello Gallico" (The Gallic War), each covering one year of his campaigns in Gaul and southern Britain in the 50s BC, with the eighth book written by Aulus Hirtius on the last two years. Then he continues with 6 books/notebooks for "De Bello Civili" (The Civil War), events of the Civil War from Caesar's perspective, until immediately after Pompey's death in Egypt. Describing the Alexandrian War, the African Campaign, and the Wars Waged in Spain. The volume is complete with all the illustrations depicting cities, fortresses, sieges, bridges, war machines and battle techniques. TITLE : Hoc volumine continentur Commentariorum de bello Gallico libri VIII, De bello civili Pompeiano libri III, De bello Alexandrino liber I. De bello Africano liber I. De bello Hispaniensi liber I. Pictura totius Galliae, & Hispaniae, ex Caesaris commentariis, nomina locorum, urbiumque, & populorum Galliae, & Hiapaniae, ut olim dicebantur Latine, nunc dicantur, iuxta litterarum ordinem. Pictura pontis in Rheno, item Auarici, Alexiae, Vxelloduni, Massiliae. Cum correctionibus Pauli Manutii...(This volume contains the Commentaries on the Gallic War, Book VIII, On the Pompeian Civil War, Book III, On the Alexandrian War, Book I. On the African War, Book I. On the Spanish War, Book I. A picture of all Gaul and Spain, from Caesar's commentaries, the names of places, cities, and peoples of Gaul and Spain, as they were once called in Latin, are now called, according to the order of the letters. A picture of the bridge on the Rhine, also of Auaricus, Alexia, Vexillodum, and Massilia. With corrections by Paul Manutius...) AUTHORS: Gaius Julius Caesar (12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), preface, translation and comments by Giovanni Giocondo da Verona or Ioannes Iucundus (1433-1515), edited by Paolo Manuzio (1512-1574) son of Aldo Manuzio (1449–1515) PUBLISHER: Paolo Manuzio son of Aldo Manuzio DATE: MDLIX (1559), printed in Venice, text in latin DESCRIPTION: In-8° size Height 173 x Width 120 mm or 6.8 by 4.7 inches. Pages [16], 318 numbered sheets, i.e. 636 pages, [1], complete edition. Beautiful early 1700s full-leather binding, with friezes, decorations, and titles on the spine. Minor flaws, a few small stains, or minor losses. Professionally restored binding, solid and in perfect working order, as shown in photos. Richly illustrated with two large double-page maps of France, Spain and Portugal and 5 full-page illustrations. Excellent preservation of the interior, pages are clean and white, rare defects. Some stains and oxidation on the title page, on the back an old drawing of a dolphin and anchor, made by the former owner. Text and illustrations are well-printed and intact. COMPLETE 1559 BOOK WITH ALL THE ILLUSTRATIONS. LITERATURE/REFERENCES: World Cat OCLC n°1439992348 & 715953863; USTC n°817506; EDIT 16th Century Italian Editions n°8176; London, United Kingdom, British Library Shelfmark: 803.b.12; Paris, France, Bibliothèque nationale de France Shelfmark: Tolbiac - Rez-de-jardin J- 13279; Philadelphia, United States, University of Pennsylvania Library Shelfmark: LatC C1165.1 1559; Caesar and the Gallic War. (1917) Loeb Classical Library. Translated by Henry John Edwards. Harvard University Press. AUTHOR: Gaius Julius Caesar (12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and subsequently became dictator from 49 BC until his assassination in 44 BC. He played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. Caesar was an accomplished author and historian as well as a statesman; much of his life is known from his own accounts of his military campaigns known as "Commentarii" (Commentaries) or the "De Bello Gallico" (The Gallic War). SHIPPING: via UPS, protected, INSURED and fully tracked package. Estimated time for Europe 3-5 working days. Shipping within one working day. You can combine shipping if you purchases several items from us, saving money and time.