First English Edition and only 16th-Century Edition in English
Phisicke against fortune, aswell prosperous, as aduerse, conteyned in two bookes. Whereby men are instructed, with lyke indifferencie to remedie theyr affections, aswell in tyme of the bryght shynyng sunne of prosperitie, as also of the foule lowryng stormes of aduersitie. Expedient for all men, but most necessary for such as be subiect to any notable insult of eyther extremitie. Written in Latine by Frauncis Petrarch, a most famous poet, and oratour. And now first Englished by Thomas Twyne.
London: Printed by [Thomas Dawson for] Richard watkyns, 1579.
Full Description:
PETRARCH. Phisicke against fortune, aswell prosperous, as aduerse, conteyned in two bookes. Whereby men are instructed, with lyke indifferencie to remedie theyr affections, aswell in tyme of the bryght shynyng sunne of prosperitie, as also of the foule lowryng stormes of aduersitie. Expedient for all men, but most necessary for such as be subiect to any notable insult of eyther extremitie. Written in Latine by Frauncis Petrarch, a most famous poet, and oratour. And now first Englished by Thomas Twyne London: Printed by [Thomas Dawson for] Richard watkyns, 1579.
First edition in English of Petrarch's "De remediis utriusque fortunae" Octavo (7 1/8 x 5 inches; 180 x 127 mm). [8], 342, [3] leaves. Bound without final blank. Title-page in a decorative woodcut border. With multiple historiated woodcut initials.
Beautifully bound in modern full brown calf. Boards double-ruled in blind and stamped with a blind scroll central device. Newer endpapers. Top edge dyed brown, others speckled brown. Title-page has been skillfully remargined along inner margin and fore-edge margin and top margin. Just a very small amount of loss to woodcut border. Previous owner's old ink signature along inner margin of title-page. The following ten leaves with repairs along fore-edge margin, but with no loss of text. The final three leaves (Table) also with repairs along fore-edge margin. Top edge trimmed close, occasionally touching the headline. A small light dampstain to a few pages, along the top margin. Overall a very good copy.
"Latin work by Petrarch, begun in 1354 but completed between 1360 and 1366 , on how to deal with both good and bad fortune. The first of its two parts contains 122 dialogues between Ratio, Gaudium, and Spes, and deals with how one should behave at times of good fortune; the second contains 131 dialogues between Ratio, Dolor, and Timor, and deals with the behaviour appropriate to adverse fortune. It is a practical manual of moral philosophy, and was widely read until the 17th c." (Oxford Companion to Italian Literature)
Some of the interesting treatises in this book include : " Of Dauncing," " Of prosperous playing at Tables," " Of Jesters," " Of the games Wrestlyng," " Of Sundie Spectacles and Shewes," Of Horses," " Of hunting and hawking," Of Precious Stones and Pearles," " Of Store of Bookes," " Of finding of a golde mine," " Of Usurie," " Of Fyshpondes," " Of an excellent School-maister," " Of a well appoynted Navie," " Of Engines and Artillerie," " Of Alchimie," " Of the Earthquake," " Of the Toothache," etc.
ESTC S114602. STC 19809.
HBS 69000.
$8,500.
Price: $8,500.00
Item #69000