J. 86
L. Annaei Senecae opera. Biponti.
1782.
}
Oeuvres de Seneque le Philosophe par La Grange.
}
10. v.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 57. no. 73, L. Annæi Senecæ opera, Lat. Biponte, et Fr. par la Grange, 10 v 8vo.
SENECA,
Lucius Annaeus.
Oeuvres de Séneque le philosophe, traduites en
François par La Grange . . .
A
Paris: de l’Imprimerie de
J. J. Smits et C
e.
, an
III de la République [1795]--
L. Annæi Senecæ Philosoph Opera ad optimas editiones collata præmittur notitia literaria studiis Societatis Bipontinæ. Biponti: ex
Typographia Societatis,
1782.
PA6667 .A1 L3
8vo. These two editions conflated and bound for Jefferson in 10 vol. straight grain red morocco, gilt line borders on the
sides, gilt ornaments on the back, with two morocco labels, the upper lettered in gold
Seneca Philosophus, the lower with the volume number. Jefferson’s binder’s slip reading
Seneca Philosophus bound in at the beginning of vol. V. Each volume has a title-page from the
French or the
Latin edition, any necessary change in volume number being made in ink by Jefferson or the binder. Initialled by Jefferson at sigs.
I and T where they occur, and with marginal paragraph reference numbers added by him. With the Library of Congress 1815 bookplate
in each volume.
The binding was done by John March, completed in October 1802, cost $22.50.
The Biponti edition was probably bought by Jefferson from their catalogue, sent to him by
Gautier in 1786. On July 21, 1788, Jefferson wrote to Gautier, acknowledging the catalogue and requesting this book: “
I am much obliged to you for the communication of the Deux-ponts Catalogue of Greek & Latin books. there is nothing in it
for which I have occasion except the ‘L. Annaei Senecae Philosophi opera. 4. vol. 7.4 if you have a correspondence there
and can conveniently order this work for me, on condition it be an Octavo edition, I shall be obliged to you.
”
Four days later, on July 25, Jefferson wrote to Van Damme of Amsterdam cancelling his order for a number of books, including
“
Senecae Philosophica,” as “
j’ai trouve l’occasion d’acheter ailleurs depuis la date de mes notes.”
The La Grange translation was ordered by Jefferson from
N. G. Dufief in a letter dated April 1, 1802: “
Since writing my letter of the 23
d. I observe in your catalogue Oeuvres de Seneque translation de la Grange 6. vol. 8
vo. which I shall be glad to recieve with the books before written for.
”
On April 6 Dufief wrote that “
Mr. Duane s’est chargé de vous remettre les ouvrages que vous m’avez demandé” to which Jefferson replied on April 10: “
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 6
th. and the books forwarded by m
(
~
r)
Duane. La Grange’s translations are new to me, and I am so much pleased with that of his Seneca, that I will thank you to
forward me also his Lucretius with the Latin text. has the Seneca of La Grange been ever printed with the Latin text? if it
has I should be glad if you would order it from France. if not, order me another French copy unbound . . .
”
On April 14 Dufief wrote: “Vous recevrez sous peu de jours un second exemplaire de l’élégante traduction des Oeuvres de Senèque, (prix 9 dollars les
6 volumes brochés) . . . J’ai parcouru avec attention les catalogues des Principaux Libraires de Paris, Il n’y est fair aucune
mention d’une Edition de Seneque, traduite par la Grange avec le texte original--ce qui me porte à croire qu’il n’en existe
réellement point--Je ne laisserai pas de donner ordre à mon libraire de m’envoyer un exemplaire de cette edition si toutefois
elle avoit été publiée--Dans ce cas je reprendrons celle que je vous adresse . . .”
In the footnote of his letter to Benjamin Rush, quoted in no. 1314 above, Jefferson wrote with regard to Seneca: “
. . . of 10. heads in Seneca, 7. relate to ourselves, ”
