1509 - Vergil's famous humanist encyclopaedia

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A highly important 1509 edition edition famous humanist encyclopaedia ‘De inventoribus rerum’ The origins of plays, books, magic, music, writing, mirrors, religious practices, and hair dying This is a very rare, original 1509 printing, offered for consideration starting at $1 and no reserve. The Book: Vergil, Polydore, 1470?-1555. De inventoribus rerum libri tres. M. Antonii Sabellici de artium inventoribus ad Baffum carmen elegantissimum... [Argentoraci : in officina Matthiæ Schürerij] Helvetensis, [1509] Physical desc. [8], LXVI, ; 4to. 20 x 14.5, paper wraps, a VERY GOOD COPY. Extremely Rare- Only two copies in 30 years of the ABPC auction records (last was 19 years ago) This is a very important and rare edition of Vergil's De inventoribus rerum, that advanced its reception among German humanist circles. It's printing was encouraged by Beatus Rhenanus, while he served as “director of publications” at the publishing house of Matthias Schürer, and before he relocated to Basel in 1511 and befriended Desiderius Erasmus. Beatus' teacher, the famous humanist Hieronymus Gebwiler, composed the introductory letter for this edition, which was evidently the first edition published in Germany. Polydore Vergil or Virgil (c. 1470 – April 18, 1555) was an English historian, of Italian birth, otherwise known as PV Castellensis. He is a primary source for the early Tudor period, though his historical accuracy is often questioned. "The De Inuentoribus Rerum was written in only three months in 1499. It described in three books the 'first begetters' of all human activities. In book I, the origin of the gods and the word 'god' was investigated. Furthermore, it discussed matters such as the creation, marriage and religion. The second book covered, amongst other topics, law and military science, but also money and precious metals. The third book went on about business for farmers, architects and commercial activities. Since the book was immensely popular, Vergil added five more books devoted to the initia institorum rei Christianae. Vergil thought that this addition would probably be a popular one, but it served another, perhaps more important purpose: it was a concession towards the Christian community who had labelled the De Inuentoribus Rerum a work of tics and depravity. The most interesting thing about Vergil’s work is not the criticism of indulgences or the scholasticism; it is the immense industry that went into the compilation and Vergil's way of anticipating modern developments, such as the scientific approach to religion; this shows that Vergil was ahead of other writers in his time. Vergil himself regarded the Inuentoribus Rerum and the Adagia as his masterpieces. It is these two works, rather than the Anglica Historia, that made Vergil a celebrity in both England and the continent. His later fame is also based on these two works." [Ref: Wikipedia] "De inventoribus rerum , described as one of the most popular books in the sixteenth century and used by Rabelais and Cervantes, offered scholars, writers, and the curious an encyclopedic, eclectic compilation of the origins of cultural productions drawn from an extensive body of medieval, contemporary, but chiefly classical sources. In it one might find the inventors of plays, books, magic, music, writing, mirrors, religious practices, and hair dying, which he attributes to Medea." [Ref: /articles/pages/3890/Vergil-Polydore-c-1470-1555.html" Vergil, Polydore (c. 1470–1555) - Biography, Major works and themes, Critical reception] read more

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