[GREEK] XENOPHONTIS. DE CYRI INSTITUTIONE LIBRI OCTO

XENOPHON. [GREEK] XENOPHONTIS. DE CYRI INSTITUTIONE LIBRI OCTO. Philadelphia: Wm. Poyntell, 1806. 8vo. Contemporary sheep. (iv), 547 pages. First edition. [Shaw and Shoemaker, 11903]. This is the first book printed in America from Greek type made in this countr Carey's edition of Epictitus (1792), the first American book printed in Greek type, was made from type cast from matrices imported from France by Benjamin Bache. The two Greek fonts used in the 1806 edition of Xenophon were cast by Binny and Ronaldson under the direction of John Watts, who was specifically brought from England to supervise the type production as well as the editing printing of this book. John Watts opened his own printing shop in New York (1809) and became one of the earliest practitioners of stereotyping in this country. Aside from being a landmark in the history of American printing, th text of Xenophon was carefully prepared, correcting more than one thousand errors found in the London printing of Thomas Hutchinson edition, on which th is based. It was the first of a series of school books published by William Poyntell which were cast in Greek type. Early hand-made bookplate on inside front board; contemporary owner's signature dated 1817 on title leaf. Hinges this volume has been professionally strengthened, else a very good copy.