Search Results: Titles starting with P from Patrick Olson Rare Books

PRINTED BY ONE OF MARTIN LUTHER'S TAVERNKEEPERS --- [126] of [126] leaves | 4to | A-C^6 D^4 E-F^6 G^4 H-I^6 K^4 L-M^6 N^4 O-P^6 Q^4 R-S^6 T^4 V-X^6 Y^4 Z^8 | 195 x 149 mm --- Probably the second edition of the Passau canon's pastoral manual, following that of Friedrich Creussner (not before 1493), and followed by several more through 1521. Pastoral manuals proliferated during the late Middle Ages, an expansive genre that offered guidance to clergy tasked with the daily care of parish souls. "This great concern for the reform of pastoral care/teaching…is best understood against the backdrop of a widespread lack of care of souls among the higher clergy. The notion of pastoral care had so declined amongst the bishops that many of the prelates lived according to the ideals of secular lords, possessing tyrannical power and pursuing the enjoyment of life" (Posset). ¶ Scholars commonly underscore Lochmaier's focus on the legal aspects of parish life, tithes and marriage law among them, which the… Read More

BOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T WRITE GOOD --- [16], 319, [1] p. | 8vo | a^8 A-V^8 | 164 x 103 mm --- First edition of the Dutch Catholic teacher's last work, a students' guide to Latin composition. By copia, Verepaeus here means not abundance but ability, what he calls the facultas to properly use words and figures of speech (p. 17-18). In subsequent years, Praeceptiones de verborum et rerum copia and Praeceptiones de figuris would often appear separately. Editions stretch into the 18th century, demonstrating an enduring utility. Includes a verse encomium by Aegidius Vlieger. ¶ Written in a catechetical question-and-answer format, the author covers all the elements of good composition. He does address some grammar and the parts of speech, but generally ventures beyond these in pursuit of more advanced rhetorical topics. "What is the use of metaphor?" (p. 166-168), for example, and "What is synecdoche?" (p. 173-174). He discusses irony, too, providing classical examples and addressing its uses… Read More

THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY REVOLUTIONIZED --- 24 p. | 8vo | A^8(A4+B^4) | 210 x 142 mm --- First and only edition of this prospectus for the recently established École centrale in Auxerre, capital of Yonne. France's revolutionary administration created the central schools in 1795 to replace its traditional universities. Each of the country's departments was to have its own, offering a standard slate of courses grounded in scientific education. The present prospectus is a perfect reflection of this national curriculum: drawing/design (dessin), natural history, and ancient languages comprised the first course of study; mathematics, experimental physics and chemistry, comprised the second; and grammar, belle lettres, history, and law rounded out the final course. Students would have been at least 12, 14, and 16 years of age to start the three courses, respectively. This novel national system was dismantled in 1802. ¶ Our prospectus is as much about propaganda and recruitment and as it is about… Read More