SAAVEDRA FAJARDO, Diego de and ROU, Jean (trans.). The Chris - Lot 279

SAAVEDRA FAJARDO, Diego de and ROU, Jean (trans.). The Christian and Political Prince. First French edition of one of the greatest texts of Spanish political theory of the Golden Age. Paris, La Compagnie des Libraires du Palais, 1668. 2 volumes in-12 (150 x 85 mm), full brown granite calf, ribbed spines, decorated with small gilt filigree irons, gilt roulettes on head and neck, red speckled edges. 13 f.n.ch., 571 pages; 1 f.n.ch., 592 pages and 7 f.n.ch.; 1 frontispiece, 1 plate and 103 in-text engraved emblems. Binding rubbed, headbands damaged, spine slightly faded, first cover slightly split at tail (Volume I), corners slightly rubbed, some foxing, some pages browned. First French edition of "Empresas políticas" by Dom Diego Saavedra Fajardo (1584-1648). An ambassador and politician of genius, dom Diego Saavedra Fajardo is also known for his cultivation and refinement of Spanish literature. Our work lies at the crossroads between these two fields: an educational treatise dedicated to the infant Balthazar-Charles of Spain, but also a literary masterpiece. It contains one hundred lessons in political education, each opening with an "emblem", an engraved allegorical vignette presenting a motto from which the author glosses, drawing on the great Latin thinkers and the Holy Scriptures. Copies in good condition of an early example of a book of political emblems.