{"product_id":"the-courtiers-manual-oracle-or-the-art-of-prudence-first-english-edition-1685","title":"The Courtiers Manual Oracle, or, The Art of Prudence — First English Edition, 1685","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGRACIÁN Y MORALES, Baltasar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Courtiers Manual Oracle, or, The Art of Prudence. Written Originally in Spanish, by Baltazar Gracian. And now done into English.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e London: printed by M. Flesher, for Abel Swalle, at the Sign of the Unicorn, at the West-End of St. Paul’s, 1685. 8vo.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst English edition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e of Baltasar Gracián’s celebrated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOráculo manual y arte de prudencia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1647), one of the great works of European aphoristic and practical philosophy. Composed as a sequence of 300 maxims on judgement, self-command, reputation, social intelligence and the management of human affairs, the work has enjoyed a remarkably long afterlife. This first English version was translated through Amelot de la Houssaie’s French translation; Gracián’s work was later notably translated into German by Arthur Schopenhauer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn evocative copy of the first English edition of one of the seventeenth century’s most enduring works of practical philosophy, retaining its contemporary boards and evidence of early ownership.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProvenance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn appealing early ownership inscription, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Theoph: Perebeau”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, appears at the head of the title page, with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“6d”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in the upper margin. A further early manuscript inscription is visible along the fore-edge. The identity of the former owner remains untraced.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e18.5 × 12 cm.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGood; professionally conserved. Contemporary blind-ruled calf boards retained, heavily rubbed and abraded, with surface losses and wear to corners and edges. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSympathetically rebacked in calf and text block resewed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, restoring structural stability while retaining the character of the original binding. The spine has been finished unobtrusively to harmonise with the surviving binding.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEarly ownership inscription to title page and manuscript lettering to fore-edge. Some browning, light spotting and handling marks internally; marginal worming affecting approximately one third of the leaves, without material loss to the text. Text complete to p. 272\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBibliographical Note\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst English edition. A⁴, \u003cspan class=\"text-token-text-primary cursor-text rounded-sm\"\u003e[a]\u003c\/span\u003e⁸, \u003cspan class=\"text-token-text-primary cursor-text rounded-sm\"\u003e[b]\u003c\/span\u003e², B–S⁸; \u003cspan class=\"text-token-text-primary cursor-text rounded-sm\"\u003e[28]\u003c\/span\u003e, 272 pp. The text of Gracián’s work is complete through p. 272. \u003c\/span\u003eLacking the two terminal advertisement leaves (\u003cspan class=\"text-token-text-primary cursor-text rounded-sm\"\u003e[4]\u003c\/span\u003e pp.)\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReferences\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWing G1468; ESTC R6724; Palau 106941.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Reservoir Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57980077900158,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1018\/4464\/8318\/files\/IMG_9809.jpg?v=1788688634","url":"https:\/\/reservoirbooks.store\/products\/the-courtiers-manual-oracle-or-the-art-of-prudence-first-english-edition-1685","provider":"Reservoir Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}