De Constantia Libri Duo
Antwerp: Ex Officina Plantiniana, 1599. Hardcover. [16], 86, [8]. Late 19th century half calf over boards with a gilt spine. First printed by Plantin in 1584 and as per Eric Speeckaert about 505 editions were published between 1584 and 1784, including a number of translations. Written by the humanist and classical scholar Justus Lipsius (1547-1606), the founding father of Neostoicism. His De Constantia owes much, as Reynolds writes p163 to Seneca in both thought and style. Lipsius was born in Spanish Netherlands and had studied Roman law at Louvain, a Catholic university. He eventually settled at the Protestant university of Jena and become a Lutheran himself. He later accepted an invitation to the Calvinist University of Leiden and stayed there for twelve years as honorary Professor of Roman history and antiquities. He then moved to Mainz, returned to the Catholic faith and lectured for the remaining fourteen years of his life at the University of Louvain. See Pfeiffer p125, Sandys II 301-305p. Hinges a little rubbed, but holding fine. Some dusting in the text and few spots, otherwise a very good copy of what Lipsius himself considered his best work. Very Good. Item #7563
4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall.
Price: $650.00