This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/21/2024
ERASMUS, Desiderius (1466-1536). Moriae Encomium [in Greek] sive Stultitiae Laus [In Praise of Folly]. Basil: G. Haas, 1780. 8vo. With all 83 woodcut illustrations after Hans Holbein (d. 1543) and others. [xviii], [1]-355, [1, blank] pp. Approximately 7 ¾ x 4 ½”. Bound in near contemporary full brown calf, boards decoratively ruled in gilt, rebacked to style in modern brown morocco, spine tooled and lettered in gilt, marbled endleaves (boards worn, scuffed, hinges reinforced with brown cloth, small ink manuscript shelf tag on fp., minor occasional foxing in text). Fine. FIRST EDITION WITH ALL 83 ILLUSTRATIONS AFTER HOLBEIN AND OTHERS. Erasmus was a prominent philosopher and humanist, and this title is one of his most famous, being a satirical attack on superstitions and other cultural norms he felt were silly.