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a black book with a red cover and gold triman old book with a picture of a bird on top of itan old book with a black and white drawing on itan old black and white photo of a man wearing a hatan old book with a drawing of a man holding a globe on it ' s back
ALDE

68 - ERASMUS. *In Praise of Folly*. Basel, Genath, 1676.
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Estimate €400 - €500
Sale commission
Description
ERASMUS. *In Praise of Folly*. Basel, Genath, 1676. 8vo, midnight blue morocco, triple blind-stamped rule, spine decorated with gilt fleurons, orange title label, gilt edges (modern binding). First edition of *In Praise of Folly*, illustrated with engravings based on drawings by Hans Holbein the Younger, which the painter produced in the margins of his own copy of the 1515 Basel edition. This edition was published by Charles Patin, who dedicated it to Jean-Baptiste Colbert. The publisher included a biography of Holbein accompanied by an index of his works, which constitutes one of the earliest catalogues raisonnés of the artist. The illustrations comprise a frontispiece title page, a title vignette, two headers – the first bearing Colbert’s coat of arms – a portrait of Erasmus, a full-page engraved epitaph for Erasmus, two portraits of Holbein and 81 etched figures, six of which, as they extended beyond the text margins, were pasted over and folded into the reserved white spaces. Holbein’s drawings were copied and enlarged by the painter Guillaume Settler, whilst the intaglio engraving was entrusted to Caspar Merian. A fine copy, well bound in midnight blue morocco. Bibliotheca Erasmania, 96–108.
See original version (French)
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About the sale Fine antique books – A library in the Languedoc
Auction location
Auction time 10/20/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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