< Back

The Golden Book of Marcus Aurelius translated into Dutch by the poet Cornelis van Beresteyn

[GUEVARA, Antonio].
T' gulden Boeck Van het leven ende Seynd-brieven van den welsprekenden Orateur ende keyser Marcus Aurelius, inde welcke veel schoone leeringhen ende sententien begrepen sijn, seer nut ende bequaem allen menschen. Eerste gedruckt t' Antwerpen by Ameet Tavenier. Nu wederom herdruckt.

With woodcut ornamental vignette on title, title set within ornamental woodcut borders, and a charming grotesque woodcut tail-piece at the end of the preliminaries.

With woodcut ornamental vignette on title, title set within ornamental woodcut borders, and a charming grotesque woodcut tail-piece at the end of the preliminaries.

With woodcut ornamental vignette on title, title set within ornamental woodcut borders, and a charming grotesque woodcut tail-piece at the end of the preliminaries.



Amsterdam, Jacob Peetersz. Paets, 1612. Sm.8vo. Contemp. vellum. With woodcut ornamental vignette on title, title set within ornamental woodcut borders, and a charming grotesque woodcut tail-piece at the end of the preliminaries. 226, (2) lvs.

Rare first Amsterdam edition of a famous sixteenth century courtesy book, "The Golden Book of Marcus Aurelius", based on the life, the letters and the proverbs of this great Roman emperor and philosopher, translated into the Dutch by Cornelis van Beresteyn, a Neo-Latin poet and professional translator from the Spanish, who lived in Haarlem, where he died in 1595.
Don Antonio Guevara (ca. 1480-1545), a Franciscan, became bishop and preacher to the Spanish King and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V. His educational works belonged to the most popular of his time, and the present "Libro Aureo de Marco Aurelio", first published in Spanish in 1528, was translated and often republished in most European languages. The first part is devoted to the life of Marcus Aurelius, mostly fiction, and the second part contains advice for the perfect ruler, based on the letters of Marcus Aurelius. It teaches the right sentiments and correct behaviour for high-places persons. One of the tales "El Villano del Danubio" inspired La Fontaine to the fable "Le Paysan du Danube". The privelege on verso title is still the one granted to Ameet Tavenier at Antwerp, and is dated 1563. The book is dedicated by the translator, Cornelis Beresteyn, to Christaen de Wairdt, a member of the Council of Charles V at Malines. It is printed in a fine Civilité type. The rest of the book is printed in a "lettre bâtarde", with legenda in the margins. At the end an index of chapters is added.

Good copy.
Scheepers II, 342; cf. Muller 324 (Rotterdam ed. of 1625); Heltzel, Courtesy Books in the Newberry Library 703 (Spanish ed. of 1533 & Engl. ed. of 1557); not in Simoni; not in Waller, De Vries, etc.

Related Subjects: Courtesy Books  Literature  Popular Books  Schoolbooks  Spain 

Add to Shopping cart
€ 4.500,00

Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.

< Back

Terms of sale

All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included. 

Free shipping for orders over € 2,500.  EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.

Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale

E-mail this to a friend







This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots. (see: www.captcha.net)

Type the characters that you see in the box (5 characters). The code can include characters 0..9 and A..F.*

  


Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands
Phone: (+31) (0)30 601 1955
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com