Stock #: ST11229k           $400
PJP Catalog 58.232

     (ELZEVIER IMPRINT). ERASMUS DESIDERIUS.
ADAGIORVM D. ERASMI ROTERODAMI EPITOME. (Amstelodami: Apud Ludovicum Elzevirium  1650)   144 x 85 mm. (5 3/4 x 3 3/8"). 12 p.l. 622 pp. [36] leaves [1] blank.    First Elzevier Edition.    Contemporary vellum flat spine yapp edges old ink titling on spine.    Publisher's device on title page ornamental headpiece foliated initials.    Front pastedown with bookplate of Doct. D. Bernard title page in red and black.    Vellum just a little grubby title page lightly soiled rust hole in P3 costing about five letters one two-inch paper flaw in an index leaf (no text lost) but an excellent copy the binding absolutely solid and the text especially clean fresh and bright.

When Erasmus (1466-1536) first published his "Adages" in 1500 he was a relatively young man and the work contained 800 proverbial sayings and stories taken largely from Latin authors to serve as learned and piquant allusions for speakers and writers. After eight years of further study Erasmus published a new version in Venice the "Chiliades Adagiorum" or "Thousands of Adages"; by this time the work included more than 3000 adages now culled from Greek as well as Latin authors comprising an impressive monument to the author's erudition. This first Elzevier edition is abridged but still makes quite a stout volume full of useful examples for say a speaker who wishes to illustrate his points with pertinent passages. Take for example the topic of "cruelty": in our edition of "Adages" will be found 12 possibilities including "Manlian orders" the tale told by Livy of the Roman general who executed his own son for disobeying orders. Conversely an extensive index would allow a reader who came across a puzzling allusion such as "Manlian orders" to find an explanation in the "Adages."

Willems 1109; Rahir 1123-24; Graesse II 494; Brunet II 1039.