Cologne (Allemagne)

First edition of Breviarum studiosorum, Prague and Nuremberg, Johann Fridriech Rutiger, 1744 [with] New edition of De arte rhetorica. Cologne, Wilhelm Metternich, 1723 [with] Ars rhetorica. Cologne, Wilhelm Metternich, 1725. New edition.

Contemporary German binding in full blonde sheep. Smooth spine richly decorated and unlettered. Boards entirely covered with rococo ornaments forming a decorative composition. Edges gilt. Traces of ties. Lacking at one tie location. Tail slightly and partially worn. 3 corners bumped.

Rich rococo prize binding with very fine arms on the boards.

Armorial copy of Alexander III, abbot of Kremsmünster (Austria), on the upper board, dated 1731, and of the academy of the same institution with the effigy of Saint Agapitus on the lower board, dated 1744. Alexander Fixmilner was abbot of Kremsmünster from 1731 to 1759, he made his abbey one of the most flourishing scientific centers of Upper Austria of his time, and vigorously encouraged the work of his nephew, the celebrated astronomer Placidus Fixlmillner (1721-1791), one of the first to discover the planet Uranus.

It was under the order of Abbot Alexander III that construction began in 1749 on the Tower of Time or Mathematical Tower, the first multifunctional baroque building, comprising nine floors and 45 meters high. Designed to house laboratories and museum collections, beginning on the ground floor with elements relating to geology; climbing the floors one finds physics, botany, anthropology and zoology, astronomy with the Camera of Time, a true meteorological research laboratory. Finally, the tower ends with a chapel and the famous observatory, thus providing a systematization of knowledge, arranged vertically, from earth to sky, therefore toward God.




 

Edition not recorded by Leclerc, Rodriquez or Borba de Moraes (cf. Sabin 43770; Cordier, Bibl. Japonica 62-63, and Bibl. Sinica 782).

Some occasional light foxing; minor worming affecting the index leaves at the end of the volume.

Modern Bradel binding in half vellum, smooth spine with red morocco label, marbled paper-covered boards.

A work of major significance for the history of Jesuit missions in the Americas, India, China, and Japan.

Sphere edition, from the Elzevier press. The meaning of the word Maximes is quite removed from the modern sense, it is more closely linked to what governs the interests of Princes, and by which precisely they are bound. The book forms a history of international relations, studying the interests that each nation has over another: France over Flanders, the Holy Empire over France, Denmark over... It is certain that these interests are of a historical, genealogical order... The work by Courtilz de Sandras is an imitation in form of the work by the Duke of Rohan which had appeared previously under the title: Intérêts et maximes des princes et des estats souverains; his book tends to present itself as a sequel, but it is written with greater scope than that of the Duke of Rohan.
Contemporary full blonde calf binding. Decorated raised spine. Blonde calf title-label. P. 34 an area of the page in the margin blacked out, with loss of a few letters. A tear on p. 163 with small lack to lower corner. Handsome copy.

First edition, with a frontispiece signed L.F.D.B. Title page in red and black.
Full marbled brown sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with acorn tools framed by foliage. Red morocco title label. One lack at head. One tear with loss at tail. Corners slightly bumped. Lacking the 2 marbled endpapers at the beginning of the work.
A Turk is sent by his sovereign to the principal courts of Europe to bear witness. The narrator begins his journey through Russia, Moscow and Saint Petersburg, then passes through Poland, finally to Vienna... The letters deal with varied subjects, European affairs, the power of Austria, French affairs, opinions on eunuchs, Amsterdam and the East India Company. The work contains interesting descriptions of the cities visited, dwelling on the customs and history of the peoples, notably the Russians...