The Praise Of Folly.
£20.00
Publisher
Hamilton, Adams and Co; Glasgow: Thomas D. Morison.
Place
London
Date
1887
Synopsis
Translated from the latin. and containing holbein's illustrations.
Item Description
8vo. 8.25 x 5.75 inches. [2] + 216 pp.+ [12] pp. publisher's list. Bound in original maroon cloth, gilt. Top edge rough cut. Some wear to extremities, including corners and head and tail of spine, which is is sunned, as rear board edges; Hinges starting to crack; otherwise a very good copy. Illustrated by portrait frontispiece and by 44 plates by Hans Holbein. Decorated by headpiece vignette and initial. The most widely read work of Erasmus is a satire on the superstitions and traditions of the western church. The Praise of Folly was originally drafted in one week by the humanist scholar while staying at the London house of Thomas More and its Latin title Moriae Encomium is said to be a pun on More's name. The work played its part in preparing the way for the Protestant Reformation, although Erasmus himself remained loyal to the Catholic church and even popes and cardinals found the work amusing. The illustrations by Hans Holbein (1497-1543) were originally from the margins of a Latin edition of c.1514 and also include the work of some other artists.
[Stock No. 28328]
