Hebrew Printing in Sabbioneta 1 AFFO, Ireneo - Schulz-Falster Rare ...

First and apparently only edition of a fascinating introduction and illustration
of masks and costumes for carnival. The anonymous author begins
with a brief history of the festivities related to carnival, with its roots in the
Roman Saturnalia, and the theatrical costumes, disguises and masks worn
for the event. Then twenty-four elaborate costumes are described in the text
and illustrated on the Wnely engraved and coloured plates. Some of them
resemble charades or poses more than modern costumes. The Wrst costumes
are static ones, ie elaborate disguises which do not allow too much movement
for the protagonist, such as the ‘living dressing table’, a sign-post, or
Xower pot. Further sections show symbolic juxtapositions, or group disguises,
such as a couple of slaves with their gang-master, or bear-dancing.
Then follow those disguises still popular today, adults in children’s clothes,
magicians, gypsies etc.
Some of the masks involve extensive props, such as a giant head, with an
elaborate face mask, or the equilibrist, where the protagonist appears to be
walking on his hands. Children’s masks, which conclude the volume, tend
to be of the more traditional variety, just based on costume, make-up and
head-dress. The adults however certainly need some theatrical talent to pull
oV the complicated disguises. Throughout historical background information
is given.
KVK and OCLC lists just two copies, Staatsbibliothek Berlin and Munich; no
copies recorded elsewhere.
Perpetual Peace
23 CASTEL de SAINT-PIERRE, Charles-Iréné abbé de. Abrégé
du Projet de Paix Perpetuelle, Inventé par le Roi Henri le Grand,
Aprouvé par la Reine Elisabeth, par le Roi Jaques son successeur,
par les Republiques & par divers autres Potentats. Rotterdam, Jean
Daniel Beman, 1729. £850
8vo, pp. [viii], 227, [3]; title printed in red and black; occasional light
browning; contemporary half calf, spine gilt, spine label with gilt mostly
removed; extremities a little rubbed, still a good copy.
First edition (Wrst issue) of the abridgement of Castel de Saint-Pierre’s famous
peace proposal, Wrst circulated in manuscript and published between
1713 and 1717. In fact this is not just a condensed version of the original
work, but includes Castel de Saint-Pierre’s further considerations and his
response to contemporary criticism.
Saint-Pierre had joined Polignac, the French ambassador, as secretary
in the diYcult peace negotiations of Utrecht which concluded the great
European war of the Spanish succession, and this proposal for ‘eternal
peace’ between political powers was the direct outcome of this experience,
even though he had started working on this text as early as 1708. Saint-
Pierre proposed the establishment of a ‘European parliament’, with its seat
at Utrecht, which would peacefully settle conXicts between states. It would
catalogue fourteen