A Treatise of Morall Philosophy: Wherein is Contayned the Lives and Answers, Witty Sayings, Worthy Sentences, Wise and Excellent Councels, Precepts, Proverbs, and Parables, of Philosophers, Orators, Emperors, and Kings . . .
Place and Imprint: London: Printed by Richard Bishop, 1651.
Edition: The last 17th century edition.
Bibliographical References: ESTC R12723; Wing B547; NCBEL I, 1083.
Condition: Paper a little browned; some light foxing; early ink doodling on the title-page; edges slightly rubbed; very good copy.
Book ID: 25578
Physical Description
Small 8vo, modern dark green morocco by MacDonald, gilt rules and lettering, a.e.g.Comments
A popular mid-Tudor work on moral philosophy by the poet, satirist and printer William Baldwin (circa 1518-1563?), "a literary innovator whose works influenced writers as historically distant and as thematically diverse as Thomas Nashe, Edmund Spenser, and Alexander Pope" - ODNB. A Treatise was first published in 1547 and many editions in the 16th century. "In his Treatise, Baldwin [adapted] the precepts of the philosophers to the practical needs of would-be governors and gentlemen without robbing them of the mystique - the impression they gave of skimming the surface of unplumbed esoteric depths - that made them attractive." See R. W. Maslen, “William Baldwin and the Politics of Pseudo-Philosophy” in Studies in Philology, Vol. 97, No. 1. Ownership signature on the verso of the title-page, dated 1663, and again on the first page of text.Price: $2,000.00
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