The First [-Second] Part[s]: Shewing the Mirror of Nobilitie, the map of honour, anatomie of rare fortunes, heroicall presidents of love, wonder of chivalrie, and the most accomplished Knight in all perfection

[Palmerin D'Oliva] [Munday, Anthony (translator)]

1637. London. Printed for B. Alsop & T. Fawcet. Two volumes in 4to, (171 x 125 mm). Uniform 18th century diced russia, rebacked sympathetically, gilt fillets to boards, spined tooled and lettered in gilt. Blank margins repaired on D4 & D5; date trimmed from imprint in the second part, foxing and spotting, very mild, else excellent condition.

Early English edition of the Palmerin de Oliva, translated by Anthony Munday, one of the most famous and influential of the Spanish chivalry chronicles, of which Cervantes speaks. The book narrates the adventures and love affairs of Palmerin de Oliva, a natural son of Prince Florendo of Macedonia and Princess Griana, daughter of the Emperor of Constantinople, who is later married with Prince Tarisio, son to the King of Hungry. Palmerin is given his name because of the circumstances of his finding, amongst palms and olives. He goes on to be knighted by his unknowing father and marries secretly the Princes Polinarda of Germany, has adventures in Babylon, and, spoiler alert, ends up as Emperor of Constantinople.

 

Despite its public appeal in the 16^th century, Cervantes in his Don Quijote condemned the book to the flames.

 

The Palmerin was first published in Salamanca in 1511, it was an immediate success and promptly published again in various Spanish cities, translations followed into French, Italian and English, the French editions also proliferated swiftly. It was also the beginning of a whole series, carried out by later authors, in what was known to be the Palmerines.

 

The first English edition appeared in 1588, today very rare.

 

Provenance: Francis Freeling, with armorial bookplates in each volume; Kenneth Rapoport sale, Swann Galleries.

 

STC 19160.

1637

$5,000.00