The Commentaries of Caesar,

An early edition in English of the Roman general Julius Caesar's (d.44 BC) Commentaries, prefixed by a lengthy discourse on The Roman Art War drawn from classical and modern sources including Machiavelli and Montesquieu. The text follows the translation made by the classicist William Duncan (1717-1760), first published in 1753.

Comprising a translation of Caesar's two surviving works, the Bello Gallico and Bello Civili, on the Gallic and Civil Wars, written largely as a justification of his military campaigns, but also containing important early descriptions of Britain and the indigenous tribes who 'paint themselves with woad, which gives a bluish cast to the sin, and makes them look dreadful in battle' (p.369).

The second work contains Caesar's account of the Civil War fought against the Roman General Pompey and the Senate in 49-48 BC, traditionally seen as marking the end of the Roman Republic, and the establishment of the Julio-Claudian dynasty that ruled in Rome until Nero's suicide in AD 68.

2 vols; 8vo (22 x 14 cm); engraved frontispiece, 1 folding plate, and 3 folding maps, armorial bookplate to front pastedown of each vol., a little toned with occasional light spotting; contemporary half calf, marbled paper boards, gilt spines in 6 compartments, contrasting green and brown morocco lettering-pieces, a little rubbed with minor loss, very good; xvi, 432; 461, [51]pp.