Sales catalogue 462: Maggs Bros

Date:
1925
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/34
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 462: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    67/324 (page 53)
    1172 MONTAIGNE (Michel de). The Essayes or Morall, Politike or Mih- tarie Discourses of Lo: Michaell de Montaigne. First written by him in French. And now done into English by him that hath inviolably vowed his labors to the eternitie of their Honors, whose names he hath severally inscribed on these his Con- sectated Altares, 2 ei pohn. Florio. Printed at London by Val. Sims for Edward Blount dwelling in Paules Churchyard, 1603. THE FIRST EDITION OF FLORIO’S MONTAIGNE. Folio. Fine copy, newly bound by Riviére, in full crushed levant morocco extra, gilt back, ge, Lond om, 1O03 (SEE ILLUSTRATION, PLATE No. LIT.). £160 *** This copy contains both lists of ‘ Errata ”’ (one at the beginning, the other at end of volume), and, besides the usual commendatory verses, it has the poem by Samuel Daniel prefixed. These points are usually missing in most copies, and both those described in Locker’s Rowfant Catalogue, and in the Grolier Club Catalogue, are without them. | “ THIS FIRST EDITION OF FLORIO’S MONTAIGNE WILL EVER HOLD A DISTINGUISHED PLACE IN A SHAKESPEARIAN LIBRARY AS ONE OF THE BOOKS WE REALLY KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE GREAT POET READ, FOR THE ACTUAL COPY USED BY HIM AND CARRYING HIS AUTOGRAPH, IS PRESERVED IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.”’ Shakespeare has copied a few lines nearly literally in ‘‘ The Tempest,’’ Act. IT., Scene I., from the following passage in the present work :— ‘It is a nation (would I answer Plato) that hath no kind of trafficke, no knowledge of letters, no intelligence of numbers, no name of magistrate nor of politic superi- oritie; no use of service, of riches, or of povertie, no contracts, no successions, no partitions, no occupation, but idle, no use of wine, corne, or metal. The very words that import lying, falsehood, treason, dissimilations, covetousness, envie, detraction and pardon, were never heard amongst them.”’ Consult also ‘‘ Montaigne and Shakespeare,’’ by J. M. Robertson.