8vo. [50], 899pp, [3]. Engraved portrait of Plautus on title page, engraved portrait of Johann Philipp Pareus on following leaf. Bound in later brown sailcloth, title embroidered in white thread to spine. Small central hole to title page, slight loss to lower corner of leaf Ii2, dampstained, some softening, occasional marginal worm-tracks, very occasional early manuscript annotations. Octagonal ink-stamps to verso of title page reading Octagonal 'MVSEVM | BRITAN \ NICVM' and 'BRITISH MUSEUM SALE DUPLICATE 178[7]' respectively.

The first complete issue (following an epitome published in 1597) of Johann Philipp Pareus' (1576-1648) meritorious philological edition of the Latin comedies of Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. A second edition, with the addition of a new comparison of all the Palatine manuscripts, appeared in 1619.

The British Museum stamps in this copy suggest that the book was once a part of Sir Hans Sloane's (1660-1753) voluminous library bequeathed to the nation as per instructions in his will on provision of £20,000 for his heirs. When the library obtained duplicate volumes, the penchant was to sell the Sloane copy as it had been purchased, unlike other foundational collections.