PRINTED 1508: A MEDIEVAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

ASTRONOMY, MUSIC, MEDICINE, THE MECHANICAL ARTS,THEATRICAL ARTS

This is a valuable antiquarian book, 500 years old, and listed for consideration starting at $1 and no reserve. Bidders with zero (0) feedback are kindly requested to contact me prior to bidding.

The Book:

Sánchez de Arévalo, Rodrigo, 1404-1470. Speculum vite humane : in quo discutiuntur com[m]oda & incom[m]oda, dulcia & amara, solatia & miseriæ, prospera & aduersa, laudes & pericula omniu[m] statuum / Auctor nobilissimi huius libri fuit dominus Rodericus Episcopus Zamorensis Castellanus, & Referendarius Pape Pauli. II. In theologia, vtroq[ue] iure & omnibus alijs bonis litteris doctissimus summus christiane̦ religionis cultor & defensor, feruentissimusq[ue] & constantissimus salutis animarum Zelator. Argentorati : Priess, 1507. 4to., 25 x 19 cm., 14 lvs., 91 lvs; lacking 6 lvs: 80-85; otherwise COMPLETE, Imprint from colophon (verso of final leaf) which reads: 'Iohannes Botzhemus abstemius D.D. Iacobus Vuymphelingius. S. pa. L. Symphorianus pollio sacerdos recognouer[i]t Iohannes prys Ciuis Arge[n]tinus in ædibus lustri vvlgo zum Thiergarten impressit. ... Pridie idus Ianuarij. Anno salutis. M.D.VII.'. Full vellum, 1684 armorial , small loss to lower spine,, dampstaining to title, some occasional marginal dampstaining, overall VERY GOOD.

This Speculum [Mirror], of the 15th century Spanish theorist Rodrigo Sánchez de Arévalo, may be viewed as an early encyclopedia. It was written by Renaissance humanist in the tradition of Isidore of Seville's Etymologia, the Speculum maius (The greater mirror) of the Dominican friar Vincent of Beauvais, and Gregor Reisch's Margarita philosophica. These Mirror-books, written within a Christian framework, sought to document the various branches of knowledge that were considered essential for the soul’s salvation. In so doing, they also served as sourcebooks for many artists and craftsmen whose expressed their interpretation of these varied practical reflections in miniatures, woodcuts, sculptures, poetry. etc.

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE! MAY BE RETURNED FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 7 DAYS, if received in the same condition as sold and sent with insured mail with tracking

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On May-02-08 at 18:45:57 PDT, seller added the following information:

Sorry, there was a typo- it was printed in 1507 NOT 1508