Job cp

1676 · G51C8PWJLUF0 — Jena: Samuel Krebs 1676. Late 19th-century half textured blue cloth sewn on 2 tapes spine-title in gold black and blue chemical-marbled sides. 4to. Title-page in red and black with a small ornament a woodcut arabesque tailpiece 5 woodcut decorated initials 3 series and a headpiece built up from cast fleurons. Set in roman types with some italic Greek Hebrew Arabic and especially Ethiopic type. First and only edition of a brief history of Ethiopia by Job Ludolf 1624-1704 who was to become the leading Ethiopic scholar of his generation. Since the 1640s Ludolf had been working in Gotha in the diplomatic service of Duke Ernst I of Sachsen-Gotha who encouraged his Ethiopic studies and since 1675 in the service of his son and successor Friedrich I. He is best known for his monumental history of Ethiopia Historia Aethiopica Frankfurt 1681 with supplemental works to 1694. The present little book is his first publication seriously devoted to the history of Ethiopia and marks the beginning of the work that was to lead to his magnum opus.With bookplate owner's inscription and library stamp. Foxed and browned especially in the last 2 leaves. A pioneering early work by the leading Ethiopic scholar of his generation.l VD17 12:150041K; Winterton collection of East Africa & Zanzibar 2002 p. 29; not in Gay. Samuel Krebs, hardcover