Bourgogne

Mundi lapis Lydius oder Der Welt Probier-Stein: das ist Emblematische Sitten-Lehren

1712 · D6153 — Augsburg: Druckts Johann Jacob Lotter 1712. Hardcover. Very Good. 4to 185 x 154mm. 113pp. Added engraved title depicting three female allegories of Vanity Fortitude and Truth by Theodor Johannes van Merlen after Abraham van Diepenbeeck is that of the first edition 1639. 50 engraved emblems by Andries Pauli in clear impressions and an “Epilogus” not present in the first. Clement’s text printed below each emblem from a second engraved plate. Roman letter and some italic in Latin and German verse on opposite pages. Letterpress dedication by Clement dated 1665. Modern half vellum over tree-calf spine stamped in gilt “Probier stein” titled somewhat toned marginal dampstaining and some foxing throughout. Ex-libris of I.H. Epstein. <br/><br/>Early German translation of Antoine de Bourgogne’s great Flemish emblem book on Vices and Vanity Mundi Lapis Lydius sive Vanitas per Veritatem Falsi. Antwerp: 1639; the text in this edition also printed in Latin. Divided into fifty chapters the book provides a dual commentary over subjects as diverse as memory marriage political power fame and eating habits. As de Bourgogne argues in the preface poor judgment can allow vain conclusions to be drawn from truth. De Bourgogne’s recognizes these human tendencies and his commentary reveals to readers not only which he takes to be true but instructs them how to arrive at truthfulness for themselves. The charming illustrations intend to guide us toward moral behavior yet they also give detailed glimpses into domestic and social scenes of the time. Each emblem is followed by text elaborating on the general lesson; a vain belief and its reality describing the scene untruthfully ‘vanitas’ the other its reality ‘veritas’. For instance surrounding an image of a printing house p. 10 it is said that Verborum copia and Nihil copia sed usus: although there is an abundance of words we marvel that abundance means nothing without use. The volume is an important and innovative continuation of the emblem tradition by Bourgogne whose novel interpretations discouraged many different possible interpretations of word and image. The Mundi Lapis Lydius was popular into the 18th century reaching several other editions and translation into Dutch and German. The expertly crafted engravings by Pauli remain fresh and bright. [Druckts Johann Jacob Lotter] hardcover books