‎SAAVEDRA FAJARDO Diego de‎
‎Idea de un Principe Christiano. Rapresentada en cien Empresas, Dedicada Al Principe De Las Españas Nuestro Señor.‎

‎" Monaco ( München), En la Imprenta di Nicolao Enrico, 1640, En Milan (Milano) 20 Abril 1642 .format in-4°, (23 x 17 cm), (20) nn pp (with engraved title page) + 753 pp +(1)(blank) (complete). With 102 in-text copper-engraved emblematical illustrations. Bound in contemporary full vellum, Manuscript title in ink on smooth spine. With the postage stamp sized printed ex-libris of J.J.S.Bibliophile tipped in on the first pastedown, also small label of the Roman antiquarian bookdealer C.E.Rappaport. Very fine copy. The title page is engraved by Ioannes Sadeler. The Milanese edition (of which we present a copy here) was a reworked edition of the very first Munich edition of 1640 which is also mentioned on the title page. This Milanese edition is considered to be the first complete edition. and served as an example for the numerous re-editions in later centuries. Praz pp. 483 mentions no less than 20 editions before the year 1800. The book opens with a dedication letter of the author to the son of king Philip IV of Spain. Then follows a letter by Enrycus Puteanus (Justus Lipsius' successor at Louvain University) in his fuction as historiographer of the Spanish king to Guil. de Blitterswyck (Brussels' alderman) and to the author, (both dated 9th October 1643, in Louvain) with a reply letter of the author ; dated 13th October 1643 in Brussels. This is also proof that the actual publication occured after October 1643. Fine copy ot the reworked first edition of this anti-Machiavellian enblem book written for the education of the Christian Spanish crown prince with the aim of inculcating Christian values and qualities in the future sovereign."‎

Reference : 59323

‎‎