CASTIGLIONE (Baldassarre):

Il Cortegiano del Conte Baldassarre. Riudutto, & corretto da Antonio Ciccarelli da Fuligni, Dottore in Theologia. Al Serenissimo Duca d'Urino

In Venetia, Appresso Paulo Ugolino, 1599. Small 8vo, 153 x 99 mms., foliated [xl], 212, contemporary limp vellum; text block pulling away from binding, itself soiled and creased, with repair to inner margin of last leaf; generally just a fair copy, with a contemporary addition to the editor's name on the title-page The scholar Antonio Ciccarelli da Fulgni was active in the late 16th century and died in the same year as this edition of Castiglionle's work appeared, though his function as editor seems to have consisted mainly of expurgating certain passages in the text. "In 1528, the year before his death, the book for which Castiglione is most famous, The Book of the Courtier (Il Libro del Cortegiano), was published in Venice by the Aldine Press[11] run by the heirs of Aldus Manutius. The book, in dialog form, is an elegiac portrait of the exemplary court of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro of Urbino during Castiglione's youthful stay there at the beginning of the sixteenth century. It depicts an elegant philosophical conversation, presided over by Elisabetta Gonzaga, (whose husband, Guidobaldo, an invalid, was confined to bed) and her sister-in-law Emilia Pia. Castiglione himself does not contribute to the discussion, which is imagined as having occurred while he was away. The book is Castiglione's memorial tribute to life at Urbino and to his friendships with the other members of the court, all of whom went on to have important positions and many of whom had died by the time the book was published, giving poignancy to their portrayals" (Wikipedia).

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9672

Catalogue: Courtesy

Keywords: courtesy manners prose

OSBORNE (Francis):

Advice to a Son. The Second Part. By Francis Osborn.

London, Printed for Tho. Robinson, 1658. FIRST EDITION. 12mo, 143 x 78 mms., pp. [xii]. 189 [190 - 192 Index], rebound in mid-20th century in cat's paw calf, gilt spine; tightly rebound, with text sometimes disappearing into gutter, slight chips on front joint, but a very good copy with the bookplate of the school master and bookseller Arnold Muirhead on the front paste-down end-paper/ Francis Osborne (1593 - 1659) published the first section of this work in 1756; it was very successful and Osborne produced an improved an a larger edition the same year. "The book's pragmatism and cynicism may have furthered its rapid acceptance. Its frank and practical aim was to guide the reader to material success in a treacherous, self-seeking world. Popular with Oxford scholars, it enjoyed a wide readership outside the university as well.... The tone of worldliness in the Advice contributed to Osborne's reputation for atheism. In 1658, after complaints from local ministers that the Advice 'did instil principles of Atheism into young Gentlemen', a formal complaint was brought to the vice-chancellor and a proposal put forward to have Osborne's books publicly burned ...(ODNB)." It didn't happen, but some of the passages in the work smack of misogyny, and it might not fare so well in today's "cancel culture" environment.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9684

Catalogue: Courtesy

Keywords: courtesy behaviour prose