Rare 1751 Foulis Press Miniature Greek Book Anacreon Sappho Alcaeus Antique Leather 18th Century Pocket Classic Scottish Binding

An extraordinary survival — a true 18th-century miniature book, printed entirely in Greek by the celebrated Foulis Press of Glasgow in 1751. This tiny volume (shown with a US quarter for scale) collects the odes of Anacreon alongside fragments of Sappho and Alcaeus, two of antiquity's greatest lyric poets. The contemporary red calf binding features a gilt fillet border and shows honest wear befitting its age — rubbing, corner loss, and surface scuffing from generations of handling and pocket-carrying. Inside, the front pastedown bears a faint pencil price notation, and the title page carries a wonderful period ownership signature: "Christopher Metcalfe, June 27 1782" — meaning this exact copy was in someone's hands just three decades after it left the Foulis press. The Foulis brothers were renowned for the accuracy and beauty of their classical Greek and Latin printing, and their miniature editions were prized by 18th-century gentlemen scholars as portable pocket classics. This is a genuine piece of Enlightenment-era printing history. Approx. 3" x 2" (32mo format). Contains 75pp of Greek text, concluding with fragments attributed to Simonides. From the Chapter & Vintage collection — old things, new chapters. Carefully packed and shipped with full insurance.