Poëmata omnia (…) Recensuit, Notis & Prefatione instruxit Petrus Burmannus Secundus

New collected edition of the works of this German-born Neo-Latin poet, one of a few copies printed on deluxe Dutch paper (see Brunet III, 1180–1181. Cf. G. Oberlé, "Poètes néo-latins", pp. 134–137; Van Tieghem, p. 91 ff.).

The first volume includes a portrait of the author.

Full ivory vellum bindings, spines with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt floral and ornamental rolls, red morocco title labels, gilt dentelle frame to covers, gilt plaques with the legend "Minerva Dordracena" at the center of each board, sprinkled edges, red silk ties (mostly missing), contemporary bindings.

A fine edition according to Brunet, who notes: “There are copies on Dutch paper.” It is considered the best collected edition of the works of this German-born Neo-Latin poet.

Published by Burmann, who added various other texts relating to Lotichius and his work.

Born on 2 November 1528 in Schlüchtern, Vetera Hesse, Peter Lotich, known in Latin as Lotichius Secundus, "was the nephew of Peter Lotich, abbot of Schlüchtern, who founded a college and was among the first in Germany to throw off the yoke of scholasticism before converting to Lutheranism, of which he became an ardent supporter. The nephew adopted the name Secundus to distinguish himself from his uncle, who had overseen his early education. He later came under the influence of Melissus, Melanchthon, and Camerarius, all of whom encouraged his exceptional poetic talent. For a time, he bore arms under the banner of the Schmalkaldic League, and later accompanied the nephews of Daniel Stribar, Dean of Würzburg, on their travels.

He studied medicine for several years in France and Italy. In Montpellier, Lecluse introduced him to Rondelet, who saved him from the Inquisition for having eaten meat during Lent. He returned from Padua with a doctorate and, in the service of the Elector Palatine, declined the chair of poetry at Marburg. Instead, he took a position as professor of medicine in Heidelberg, where he died in 1560, poisoned by a love potion prepared by a woman for a faithless lover and mistakenly consumed by Lotichius. His biographer, J. Hagen, named him prince of modern Latin poets. ‘The most compelling body of poetry, where the author’s life occupies the greatest place and holds the most interest, is that left by Lotichius Secundus, unanimously regarded as the finest Neo-Latin poet Germany has produced (…) Student, lover, traveller, soldier, professor, he passed through this difficult, wandering, adventurous and often perilous life with his gaze fixed on a single ideal: poetic beauty; and let us add: the glory conferred by beautiful verse’. Van Tieghem, p. 91.” Cf. Gérard Oberlé.

One of the rare copies on deluxe Dutch paper, finely bound with the emblem of the Dutch city of Dordrecht.

A printed and manuscript leaf bound before the title of volume I attests that these two handsome volumes were awarded as a prize (likely for Latin composition) to a student of the Dordrecht Gymnasium, Heinrich Van Dam.

Bookplates of Charles Clément Roemers (Maastricht, 18th century) and Dominique Goytino.

One of the rare copies on deluxe Dutch paper, finely bound with the emblem of the Dutch city of Dordrecht.