ERASMUS, Desiderius. Apophthegmatum… Gryphius 1539

ERASMUS, Desiderius. Apophthegmatum opus cum primis frugiserum, iugilanter ab ipso recognitum auctore, e Graeco codice correctis aliquot locis, in quibus interpres Diogenis Laertii sesellerat
Lyon: Sébastien Gryphe, 1539

Octavo, pp. 609 [39]; Contemporary dark calf binding, double blind ruled boards and blind stamped centrepiece; rubbed, corners and edges worn, some scratches; raised bands, label to second compartment, spine very worn, cracked and fraying at the head and tail, edges of textblock and bands showing in places. Internally clean with only minor spots. Owner’s ink inscription to top of title page ‘Jean du [c]imeres[t]]’; Manuscript ink inscription in 16th century secretary hand to first free flyleaf recto, a passage beginning with ‘Ocio quy nescit vri plus negocij habet Qy~[?] cum est negocium in negocio’ [He who does not know what to do at leisure has more business than [?] when there is work in business]; remnants of later ink inscription to flyleaves at back in French, the ink on recto fading, but clear on verso. Text underlined in ink throughout by a previous owner, printer’s device to title page. A very good copy of Erasmus work in a contemporary calf binding.
The very rare complete edition of Erasmus’ celebrated translation of Plutarch’s Apophthegmata, here in his own revision and with the two additional chapters which had first appeared in 1532. The excerpts from Diogenes Laertius have been newly translated from the Greek. The Apophthegmata, among Erasmus’ later substantial works, are a collection of sophisticated anecdotes, poignant words, arid wise actions gathered from classical literature, similar in conception to his earlier Aadagia. It became one of the most esteemed schoolbooks of the 16th century and appeared translations into almost all European languages.
Worldcat lists only 3 copies of this edition in US Institutions (Yale, Library of Congress, James White Library) and one in the UK (BL).
USTC 147546; Adams 494 p.395; Baudrier VIII, 122; Goldschmidt 154; Bibliotheca Erasmiana, Apophthegmata, p.55.