Guevara (de) Antonio (1481-1545): Libro di Marco Aurelio con l’horologio de prencipi. Distinto in quattro volumi. Composti per il molto reverendo signor D. Antonio di Guevara…

Guevara (de), Antonio (1481-1545)

LIBRO DI MARCO AURELIO CON
L’HOROLOGIO DE’ PRENCIPI. DESTINTO IN IIII VOLUMI. In Venetia,
Pietro Ricciardi, M.DC.VI (1606).

Description : [in 8vo] –leaves (28) , 91, (b) + (4), 95, (b) + (4) , 112 +.(4), 59, (1).

MARCUS AURELIUS. THE DIAL OF PRINCES. Antonio de Guevara was the most known
Spanish writer in the 16th century, whose popularity spanned well beyond his original
homeland across the whole of Europe. His “Marco Aurelio con el Reloj de Principes,” first
published in Valladolid (1529) achieved extraordinary success, appearing in many editions
and being translated in several languages. The “Marcus Aurelius” by Guevara pretends to be a
translation of a biography of the Emperor discovered in manuscript in the Medici library. The
“Dial of Princes” (to use the 16th-century English title) belongs to the tradition of counsel and
instruction to heads of state to lead just, courteous and well-rounded lives. This Italian
edition by Francesco Portonaris da Trino includes also the fourth book (absent in some editions)
which deals with the way a Prince should rule his Court and treats of the many ways to maintain
the prince image and reputation, pursuing sobriety as a general rule of life and avoiding
unseeming, inappropriate or disorderly behaviors in front of his subjects. Contemporary full
limp vellum binding, well preserved, very good interiors with minor spotting and very few
marginal little stains, in the overall a a clean copy . Each of the four parts with individual
titlepage bearing the allegoric woodcut printer’s device, woodcut historiated and decorated
initials, and head and tailpieces enrich the text printed both in tondo, mostly for the proemial
parts and the notes , and for the rest in an elegant cancelleresco typeface. A few marginal
repairs including some little restorations at the bottom margin of a few pages for a wormhole
otherwise perfect.

Cfr.: J.C. BRUNET, Manuel du Libraire et de l’amateur de Livres. IV ed (1842), Vol. II, 482-484 ; BVB
Bibliotheksverbund Bayern§ Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München, ref. BV001522611