16th Century Literature

1566 Plutarch Moralia Greek Philosophy Essays Oracles Superstition Sagundinus

'Moralia' is one of only two surviving works of Greek philosopher Plutarch. While not as widely known or recognized as 'Parallel Lives,' 'Moralia' is still a rather important work. It is a collection of seventy-eight various essays and transcribed speeches each of which provide an understanding of Roman and Greek life in the 1st-century AD. These essays have been known to make a significant impact on Enlightenment thinkers such as Montaigne. The list of topics covered in 'Moralia' is quite varied but all fall into the category of self-improvement or cultural improvement. Such topics include how to educate children, how to teach and learn virtue, the value of friendship, validity of oracles and superstition, causes of natural phenomena, and the talkativeness of women!

This rare, mid-16th-century edition of Plutarch's 'Moralia' was translated out of the Greek and into Latin by Nicolaus Sagundinus.

Item number: #9365
Price:… Read More

1553 Sabinus Catalog of Roman & German Emperors ROME Charlemagne Augustus Caesar

Georg Sabinus was a 16th-century German poet and historian who published an important catalogue of the emperors of Rome. Curiously, Sabinus supplemented the lists of Roman rulers with lists of German leaders. Each entry features a short description of the figure including some of which are written in poetic verse. It includes all the known Roman and German rulers such as Charlemagne, Otto the Great, Charles V, Constantine, Julius Caesar, Nero, and Augustus Caesar.
This fascinating Latin edition was published in Wittemberg, Germany in 1553 by Kreutzer
Item number: #10777
Price: $599
SABINUS, Georg
Catalogus Romanorum Imperatorum. Additi sunt et Germanici Imperatores descripti versibus
Wittemberg : [Veit Kreutzer], 1553.
Details:
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Collation: Complete
o 40 leaves
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References: USTC 619698
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Publisher information from USTC
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Language: Latin
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Binding: Vellum; tight & secure
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Size:… Read More

1598 Wars Religion French Holy League Catholic Church Duke of Parma Henry IV

Simon Goulart was a 16th-century French reformed theologian who wrote a number of books on history and theology. His most important work was a description of the most memorable and important events that occurred during the French Catholic League, or Holy League, of the French Wars of Religion.
This book covers the French holy wars in 1592-1593, focusing on the Dukes of Parma, Alessandro and Ranuccio.
Item number: #13112
Price: $750
GOULART, Simon
Le cinquiesme recueil, contenant les choses plus memorables avenues sous la Ligue, depuis le deuxiesme et dernier voyage du duc de Parme en France, au commencement de l'an M.D. XCII. jusques à la fin de l'an M.D. XCIII.
[Geneva]: Imprimé l'an de nostre Salut, M.D.XCIX. [1598].

Details:
· Collation: Complete with all pages
o
[16], 835, [1]
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References: not in Adams
· Language: French
· Binding: Vellum; tight & secure
· Size: ~7in X 4.5in… Read More

1541 Catholic LAW Decretals Pope Boniface VIII Gregory IX Medieval Judaism Jews

Pope Boniface VIII was a 13th-century Catholic Pope who is best remembered for his contributions to the Sixth Book of Decretals. In this decretal, Boniface continues the original five decretals established by Gregory IX which helped teach Catholic canon and church law and more importantly, gave power to the pope over the Church.
Originally written in 1234, this Catholic doctrine included many anti-Jewish sentiments, in particular the "perpetua servitus iudaeorum" stating that all Jews would be servants until the end times. Because of this, Jews were suppressed from having any sort of direct influence in political or ecclesiastical decisions for centuries.
Item number: #19557
Price: $950
BONIFACE VIII, Pope
Sextvs decretalivm liber, per Bonifacium octauum pontificem in concilio Lugdunensi aeditus
Parisiis : Ex officina Carolae Guillard, 1541.
Details:

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Collation: Complete with all pages
o
[16], 216… Read More

1556 LAW Justinian Institutes Theophilus Antecessor Byzantine Law Jacques Corte

"Freedom is the natural ability of everyone to do what he likes, unless it is prohibited by law or by force."
― Justinian I
The 'Institutes of Justinian' is a portion of the full Corpus Juris Civilis, largely based on the Institutes of Gaius. Justinian sought to reform Roman law and education. This work was originally intended to be used by law students, but they were not solely used as a textbook, they carried legal weight …as law!
Numerous jurists throughout history have made commentary on Justinian and created their own perspectives on the famed 'Corpus Juris Civilis'. Sixth-century Byzantine jurist Theophilus Antecessor was one such mind who wrote a commentary on each portion of Justinian's 'Corpus Juris'. This 1556 edition of Theophilus was edited by Jacques de Corte.
Item number: #19755
Price: $950
JUSTINIAN
Institutionum iuris civilis libri IIII
Venetiis : Apud Hieronymum Scotum, 1556.

Details:
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1544 PURGATORY Cochlaeus Animarum Purgatorio anti Luther Catholic Indulgences
Johannes Cochlaeus was a 16th-century Catholic humanist who, curiously, found ways to frustrate both the Catholic Church and Protestant reformers with his writings. In addition to writing against Luther's doctrines of predestination and the Bible's authority on the sacraments, he wrote an interesting treatise describing Purgatory. In this work 'De Animarum Purgatorio', Cochlaeus refutes the theological views that Purgatory does not exist.
Item number: #20012
Price: $950
COCHLAEUS, Johannes
De animarum purgatorio igne epitome, contra sectas novas quæ purgatorium negant
Paris: Jean André, 1544. 1st edition

Details:

· Collation: Complete with all pages
o
Unpaginated; [56] leaves
o
Signatures: a-g8
· Provenance: Handwritten – Joannis [Counotelis], 1709
· Language: Latin
· Binding: Vellum; tight and secure
· Size: ~4.25in X 3.25in (10.5cm x 8cm)
· Rare and desirable
Our… Read More

1557 1ed Epitome on Prosody Latin & Greek Grammar Language Berthelon Literature
A rare and rather obscure 16th-century study on Prosody, linguistics, and grammar. Collected and edited by a Pantaleon Bartelon, this work is a collection of literary and poetic examples published together with the intents of offer direction to writers and grammarians.
Item number: #20562
Price: $750
BERTHELON, Pantaleon
Epitome in prosodiam : ex variis scriptoribus compendiosè collecta
Parisiis: Ex officina Simonis Calvarini, 1557. First edition.

Details:
· Collation: Complete with all pages
o
277, [27]
· References: USTC 198081; Pettegree, FB 55983
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Provenance: Handwritten – Alexandri [Peleé] DeVarenne, 1726
· Language: Latin
· Binding: Leather; tight and secure
· Size: ~4.5in X 3in (11.5cm x 7.5cm)
· Quite scarce
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Customer satisfaction is our priority! Notify us with 7 days of receiving, and we will… Read More

1558 Roman Republic Provinces GAUL Egypt ROME Elections Legions Onofrio Panvinio
Onofrio Panvinio was a 16th-century Italian historian who published a number of works on antiquity. Perhaps his most famous works were those on the Roman Republic, such as 'Republicae Romanae Commentariorum'. This work is a broad study on the Roman Empire and focuses on the following aspects:
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Priests
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Tribes and customs
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Government elections and officials
o Includes popes
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Provinces of Rome (descriptions of)
o Spain, Sardinia, Achaia, provinces in Gaul, Sicily, Cyrene, Numidia, Cyprus, Crete, Bithynia, Syria, Egypt, Britannia, and many more.
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Roman colonies and municipalities
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People in Roman legions
It also features a detailed and thorough physical description of the city of Rome including street names, ports, and iconic locations.

Item number: #20593
Price: $950
PANVINIUS, Onofrio
Onuphrii Panuinii Veronensis fratris eremitae Augustiniani Reipublicae Romanae… Read More

1594 Menippean Satire Catholic LEAGUE Spain France Religion Wars Paris
A rare first edition of The Menippee Satire – a political work of prose and satire which criticized the Catholic League and Spain during the French Religious Wars. This fine printing features a beautiful and detailed engraving of the Catholic League procession. This book of prose and verse was collected by numerous authors including Jacques Gillot, Florent Chrestien, Nicolas Rapin, Pierre le Roy, Jean Passerat, Gilles Durant, and others.
This edition 16th-century edition was published in Paris by Jamet Mettayer. Numerous editions were published in 1594 Paris, the publisher of this edition is confirmed by the USTC.
Item number: #20592
Price: $750
Catholic Church
Satyre Menippee de la vertv dv catholicon d'Espagne, et de la tenve des Estatz de Paris
A Paris: [Jamet Mettayer], 1594.

Details:

· Collation: Complete with all pages; 2 parts in 1
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'Satyre Menippee' – 255, [1]
o
'Suitte du Catholicon' – 45, [1]
·… Read More

1547 Saint Anselm of Canterbury BIBLE Epistles of Paul Benedictine Scholasticism

"I believe in order that I may understand."
– Anselm of Canterbury
Saint Anselm of Canterbury was an 11th-century Benedictine monk and philosopher. While Anselm was relatively unknown and unrecognized for his philosophical views during his lifetime, he has since been considered the founder of scholasticism and writing about the existence of God in an academic manner rather than purely theological. The ODCC refers to Anselm as being 'the most luminous and penetrating intellect between St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas…and the father of scholasticism'. Many of his writings set the stage for a European period of innovating logic, ethics, mysticism, and metaphysics.
This 1547 printing of the works of Anselm features his commentary on the Epistles of Paul.
Item number: #20839
Price: $950
ANSELM, Saint of Canterbury

D. Anselmi Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi, theologorum omnium sui temporis facile principis
Venetiis ad signum… Read More

1583 Celt Hellenisme French Language Origins GREEK Gaul Celts Celtic Linguistics
Leon Trippault was a 16th-century French historian known for his Greek and Roman histories. Perhaps his most important contribution was his 'Celt-Hellenisme' – a treatise on the belief that French Celts spoke ancient Greek. This book has long been considered one of the best resources on the origins of the French language, primarily with regard to its Greek origins. Many historians claim that ancient Gauls and Celts spoke Greek or Greek-derived languages which developed into French over time. (Kibbee)
Item number: #21336
Price: $950
TRIPPAULT, Leon
Celt-Hellenisme, ou, Etymologic des mots Francois tirez du grace.
A Orleans: Par Eloy Gibier, 1583.

Details:

· Collation: Complete with all pages
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[8], 311, [1]
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Signatures: *4 A-Z4 Aa-Qq4
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References: D.A. Kibbee "Renaissance Linguistics: French Tradition"
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Provenance: Handwritten – Claudii Tripault
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Language: French
· Binding:… Read More

1574 Orthodox Saint 1ed John Cassian Ascetic Hermits Monks Egypt Desert Fathers

Saint John Cassian was a 4th-century Ascetic monk who was notable for his writings of mysticism and early monasticism. One of his most important works is "Collationes Patrum in Scetica Eremo." In this work, Cassian describes early Christian hermits and monks who wandered the Egyptian desert in the 3rd-century. Specifically, this book focuses on the difficulties of living an ascetic life written through the eyes of notable church fathers such as Moses, Daniel, Saint Serenus, and Isaac.

This 1574 edition was published in Lyon by Philip Tinghi and is considered very rare. According to the USTC, no copies are known to exist in any institutions in America!

Item number: #22125
Price: $750

CASSIAN, Johan

Collationes patrum, opus Ioannis Eremitae, qui & Cassianus dicitur. De institutis coenobiorum, origine, causis & remediis vitiorum, libri XII. Patrum Collationes XXIIII

Lugduni: Sumptib. Philippi Tinghi Floren., 1574.… Read More

1577 1ed Kings of FRANCE Henry II Charles IX Catherine Medici Catholic Serres 3v

Jean de Serres was a 16th-century French historian best-known for his histories of the 16th-century kings of France. His commentary on the lives of Henri II, Francis II, and Charles IX outlined the impact of the Catholic persecution of Protestants, the wars in Italy in 1550s, the French diplomatic endeavors in Italy, and the correspondence with the powerful Medici family. This first edition of Serres' final work includes his commentary on each of the first three kings of 16th-century France.

Item number: #22146
Price: $950

SERRES, Jean de

Partis commentariorum de statu religionis et reipublicae in regno Galliae libri tres

Anno ultimae dei patientiae, 1577-89. [Genève, Eustache Vignon]

Details:
• Collation: Complete with all pages; 3 tomes
o "I. Partis Libri tres" – [16], 147 leaves, [14]
o "II. Partis Libri tres" – [14], 134 leaves, [8]
o "Libri vii…" – [16], 324, [12]
 Dated 1589
• References: USTC… Read More

1537 Greek Attic Nights Noctes Atticae ROME Philosophy Aulus Gellius GREECE

"Truth is the daughter of time"
― Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticae, XII

A very rare and beautiful edition of Aulus Gellius' 'Attic Nights'. This book was a compilation of notes and shorter essays on grammar, philosophy, history, and antiquities which offer a glimpse into the cultures of both Greek and Roman life and society. Gellius began the work while he was living in Attica, Greece, but concluded the work in Rome. The rather disjunct contents include Gellius's observations and unusual interests found in books or overheard in conversation.

This 1537 edition was published in Cologne by Johann Gymnich.

Item number: #22464
Price: $750

GELLIUS, Aulus

Auli Gellii Luculentissimi Scriptoris, Noctes Atticae

Coloniae: Apvd Ioannem Gymnicvm, 1537.

Details:
· Collation: Complete with all pages
o [48], 729, [35]
· References: USTC 614772
· Provenance: Handwritten – Josephi Aperna
· Language:… Read More

1584 John Calvin Institutes of Christian Religion Geneva Bible Catechism FAMOUS
"We should ask God to increase our hope when it is small, awaken it when it is dormant, confirm it when it is wavering, strengthen it when it is weak, and raise it up when it is overthrown."
― John Calvin
A rare, 16th-century Latin translation of John Calvin's "Institutio Christianae relgionis", or "Institutes of the Christian Religion." It is still widely read and considered highly influential in Western world Christianity. At its core, "Institutes" was intended to provide Christians inspiration in their living as well as being an introductory work to those new to the faith. It attacked those who opposed Calvin's teachings, most notably Roman Catholicism.
"Institutes" was immensely popular during the 16th-century and has since been held in the same respect as Augustine's "City of God," Aquinas's "Summa Theologica," Melanchthon's "Loci Communes" and other important Christian doctrines.
This 1584 edition of Calvin was… Read More