MORIAE ENCOMIUM: OR, THE PRAISE OF FOLLY. Made English from the Latin of Erasmus

London: J. Wilford, 1724. Hard Cover. Good binding. 12mo. [16], xiv, [2 (ads)], vi, 168, [4 (index)] pp., frontis, plates, illus. Fourth edition. Bound in 19th century paper over boards with morocco title label on the spine; all 46 copperplate engravings are present, some folding, some full page, some in-text. The paper at both outer hinges is splitting, but the covers are solidly attached; light wear to the extremities; a handsomely simple binding; contents are evenly and moderately foxed; a few of the folding plates have early and tasteful mends to a fold--minimal and not distracting and most importantly, effective.

Originally issued in Latin in 1511, In Praise of Folly "is a brilliant, biting satire on the folly to be found in all walks of life. The book stemmed from the decision which Erasmus had taken when he left Rome to come to England, that no form of preferment could be obtained at the sacrifice of his freedom to read, think and writing what he liked. In it Kings and Popes, Princes of the Church and temporal rulers are alike shown to be ruled by Folly, and it seems almost inconceivable that an age of absolute authority should have allowed him to remain unscathed. The work was first seretly printed in Paris, and, as in other cases, its immediate success safeguarded him from the consequences of his audacity. . . . Whenever tyranny or absolute power threatened, The Praise of Folly was re-read and reprinted" PMM 43. Here offered in an early English translation with 46 engravings after drawings by Hans Holbien. While it is self-styled the fourth edition, the earliest edition issue by Wilford that is held by any institution (according to OCLC) is the third edition (1722); and it is fairly uncommon in libraries with scarcely more than two dozen copies held. A charming copy of an important book that has never ceased to be relevant. ESTC T177820.