Miniature edition of the "Moral Characters", a major work of ancient philosophy, by Theophrastus (ca. 371-287 BCE). The work is published with the Greek and Latin texts on opposite pages, to which are added the extensive notes and comments, of over 200 pages, by Johannes Augustus Werdenhagen (1581-1652), for use of students. The present, second Dutch, edition is quite rare, with only three copies recorded in institutions.
Theophrastus was born on the island of Lesbos and was a student of Aristotle. He wrote numerous treatises across all areas of philosophy, but the present work is his most well-known, and has been imitated many times, especially in the 17th century. The work, which was already widely read in classical antiquity, contains thirty descriptions of moral types, which are both humorous and morally instructive. As the first recorded attempt of systematic character writing, it paints a vivid picture of various human behaviours and offers insight into universal human weaknesses. Theophrastus' simple and direct style makes the work accessible while offering a profound reflection on the qualities and flaws of human nature.
With the armorial bookplate of Edward Shipperdson mounted on the front pastedown, and the manuscript initials "RK" on the first free flyleaf. The vellum is somewhat soiled and stained, with a tear and small loss at the foot. The leaves are somewhat browned. Otherwise in good condition. The children's world of learning 208; STCN 113911513 (3 copies); USTC 1809102 (3 copies); Welsh, A bibl. of miniature books, 6679; not in Dibdin.