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Important work on navigation and an early mention of playing cards

GUEVARA, Antonio de.
Epistres dorées moralles & familieres.
Including:
GUEVARA, Antonio de and Jean de GUTERRY (translator). Tome second des epistres dorées et discours salutaires.
GUEVARA, Antonio de. Le troisieme livre des epistres illustres.
Lyon, Macé Bonhomme, 1558-1559.
With:
(2) GUEVARA, Antonio de. Traité des travaux et privileges des galeres & des inventeurs de l'art de naviger.
Lyon, Macé Bonhomme, 1560.
2 works (the first in 3 parts) in 1 volume. 4to. With the titles of the first 3 books in woodcut architectural borders; 2 woodcut illustrations in the text and a number of large woodcut historiated initials. 18th-century tree calf, rebacked with the original backstrip laid down, later endpapers.
€ 2,750
First edition in French of Guevara's Arte de marear ("Art of navigation") and a complete set of the three parts of the French edition of his Epístolas familiars ("Familiar epistles"), both translated from the original Spanish. The Art of navigation chronicles its subject from classical antiquity onward, but most of the text focuses on Guevara's own era. Often humorous are the descriptions of the horrendous food aboard the galleys and his tongue-in-cheek listing of the 58 "privileges" reserved for those who choose a life at sea. Ultimately, the art of navigation is something that separates men from beasts, since beasts flee when they see they danger yet man willingly navigates into unknown waters.
With an old owner's inscription on the first title page, a number of annotations in the text, which is ruled in red throughout. In good condition with the binding somewhat worn but expertly restored, water stain in the upper margin. Ad 1: Baudrier X, Pp. 256, 260, 263; Emeline Huguet, Macé Bonhomme (masters thesis, U. Lyon, 2013), 228, 239, 245; Taylor, The history of playing cards, pp. 42-43; USTC 6477, 27011, 27012 (5 copies); cf. Crone Library 42 (1st Spanish ed.); ad2: Baudrier X, p. 263; Emeline Huguet, Macé Bonhomme 246; USTC 61577 (2 copies).
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