Guevara (de) Antonio: Libro di Marco Aurelio con l’horologio de prencipi. Distinto in quattro volumi. Composti per il molto reverendo signor D. Antonio di Guevara (1606)
€800,00
Antonio de Guevara (1481-1545)
LIBRO DI MARCO AURELIO CON L’HOROLOGIO DE’ PRENCIPI. DESTINTO IN IIII VOLUMI.
In Venetia, Pietro Ricciardi, M.DC.VI (1606).
Description : [in 8vo] –leaves (28) , 91, (b) + (4), 95, (b) + (4) , 112 +.(4), 59, (1).
MARCUS AURELIUS. THE DIAL OF PRINCES. Antonio de Guevara was the most known Spanish writer in the 16th century, whose popularity spanned well beyond his original homeland across the whole of Europe. His “Marco Aurelio con el Reloj de Principes,” first published in Valladolid (1529) achieved extraordinary success, appearing in many editions and being translated in several languages. The “Marcus Aurelius” by Guevara pretends to be a translation of a biography of the Emperor discovered in manuscript in the Medici library. The “Dial of Princes” (to use the 16th-century English title) belongs to the tradition of counsel and instruction to heads of state to lead just, courteous and well-rounded lives. This Italian edition by Francesco Portonaris da Trino includes also the fourth book (absent in some editions) which deals with the way a Prince should rule his Court and treats of the many ways to maintain the prince image and reputation, pursuing sobriety as a general rule of life and avoiding unseeming, inappropriate or disorderly behaviors in front of his subjects.
Contemporary full limp vellum binding, well preserved, very good interiors with minor spotting and very few marginal little stains, in the overall a a clean copy. Each of the four parts with individual titlepage bearing the allegoric woodcut printer’s device, woodcut historiated and decorated initials, and head and tailpieces enrich the text printed both in tondo, mostly for the proemial parts and the notes, and for the rest in an elegant cancelleresco typeface. A few marginal repairs including some little restorations at the bottom margin of a few pages for a wormhole otherwise perfect.
Cfr.: J.C. BRUNET, Manuel du Libraire et de l’amateur de Livres. IV ed (1842), Vol. II, 482-484 ; BVB Bibliotheksverbund Bayern§ Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München, ref. BV001522611
