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Fine Editions Ltd

Fine Editions Ltd
Item #BB0438 [Emblem Book] [Courtesy Book] Idea de un príncipe político cristiano. Representada en cien empresas por Don Diego Saavedra Faxardo Cavallero &c. Diego de SAAVEDRA Fajardo.
[Emblem Book] [Courtesy Book] Idea de un príncipe político cristiano. Representada en cien empresas por Don Diego Saavedra Faxardo Cavallero &c.
[Emblem Book] [Courtesy Book] Idea de un príncipe político cristiano. Representada en cien empresas por Don Diego Saavedra Faxardo Cavallero &c.
[Emblem Book] [Courtesy Book] Idea de un príncipe político cristiano. Representada en cien empresas por Don Diego Saavedra Faxardo Cavallero &c.

[Emblem Book] [Courtesy Book] Idea de un príncipe político cristiano. Representada en cien empresas por Don Diego Saavedra Faxardo Cavallero &c.

Amstelodami [Amsterdam]: apud Ioh. Ianssonium Iuniorem, 1659. Early Reprint. Vellum. Pocket edition of the most important anti-Machiavellian book of the seventeenth century, as well one of the most popular and most beautiful Spanish seventeenth-century emblem books. Text in Latin. 12mo (127 x 70mm): [24],832,[4]pp, with engraved title page, 101 nearly full-page copper-engraved emblems within borders of varying designs after Johannes Sadeler at the beginning of each chapter as pictorial statement of the chapter’s lessons, and a final unnumbered plate beneath a brief obituary of the author ("Magni Politici"), showing skull, tomb, and other images of death with the banner "Ludibria Mortis." Contemporary vellum, faded title in manuscript to spine, page edges sprinkled blue; cloth-covered slipcase with brown morocco lettering piece gilt. An exceptionally crisp, clean copy. Modeled after the Milan issue of 1642, which corrects the errata discovered in the first edition of 1640. Not to be confused with another Amsterdam edition, dated 1659, with imprint of Jansonium Jr. Emblemata Hispanica SX19. Praz, p. 483. Ticknor III, 185. Fine. Item #BB0438

First published in Munich, in 1640, followed by more than twenty editions in the original Spanish as well as translations into French, Italian, English, German and Latin (as here). One of the finest Golden Age treatises on statecraft, covering the education of a prince, his relations with ministers and subjects, and his duties as head of state, written in reply to Machiavelli's cynicism, for Saaevdra was a diplomat and man of letters, but is best know as a political thinker and for this, his most erudite work. The Idea of a Christian Political Prince compiles more than a hundred short essays, or maxims, illustrated with emblems in the style of Andrea Alciato's Emblemata. Sententious, mainly moral, and philosophical in character, they were written for the education of Balthasar, son of Philip IV, who died too young to profit from its advice. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Price: $1,365.00

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