More than just a piece of history

Marie Ferrara, head of special collections at the College of Charleston, turns a page Friday in Herodotus' 'The Histories.' The first-edition book, published in 1502, is one of about 25 copies that exist.

Marie Ferrara gently places the 500-year-old copy of Herodotus' "The Histories" on a felt blanket, puts on white gloves, and only then opens it and turns its pages.

Ferrara, the head of special collections at the College of Charleston's Addlestone Library, said the recent gift of the 1502 Aldine first edition is a boon for the school's rare books collection.

The Aldine edition, which is written in ancient Greek, is the first printed version of the book Herodotus wrote about 440 B.C. It's one of about 25 copies that exist today. The book is about the Greco- Persian wars, which took place between 490 and 479 B.C., Ferrara said.

Herodotus is known as "the father of history" because he was the first to write a comprehensive account of historical events, she said. Before Herodotus, people simply chronicled events.

"For some students, (the book) will make history come alive. It will make the light bulb go off," Ferrara said.

Darryl Phillips, chairman of the college's classics department, said Histories was the first multinational account of

history. It was also a travelogue and cultural commentary, he said.

The book also documents "the beginnings of the east-west tension that's dominated history for 2,500 years," he said.

In the next few weeks, students in Phillips' Greek history class will begin reading the English translation of the book. They will now be able to go to the library to look at the 1502 Aldine version, he said.

"To have a rare primary source like this in invaluable," Phillips said.

Ferrara said acquisitions such as Histories might draw students back into the library. Because so much material is now available online, many students aren't aware of what the library offers, she said.

And anybody is welcome to come and see the book, she said, as long as they make an appointment. The book is stored in an environmentally controlled vault in the special collections department, she said. A staff member must remain with library patrons as they look at the book.

Teresa Johanson of Johanson Rare Books in Baltimore said the book likely is worth between $40,000 and $50,000.

College officials said the acquisition was made possible by a gift from Charles and Celeste Patrick.

Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com.