The Four Seasons of Human Life Four Anonymous Engravings from the Trent Collection
Language: English
Published by Erasmus Publishing, EB, 2002
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Last Exit Books, Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A.Last Exit Books
AbeBooks seller since December 6, 2005
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 97.41
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Hardcover. Folio. Erasmus Publishing, Rotterdam/Durham, NC. 2002. 109 pgs. 4 color plates & b. /w. Ills. Bound in red cloth boards with titles present to the spine and front board. Boards have light shelf-wear present to the extremities. No ownership marks present. Text is clean and free of marks. Binding tight and solid. The Trent Collection at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, U. S. A. , holds four, probably unique, copperplate engravings, each associated with a season and concerned with morality and with scientific matters from a variety of disciplines: medicine, astronomy, astrology, meteorology, alchemy. The texts, allegories, prints and symbols present a fascinating cross section of the history of medicine and science up to the 17th century. The plates contain as many as twelve layers, which can be folded back to reveal underlying illustrations. Each print has at its center two human figures, standing between two trees. The first print, VER (Spring) , shows a fetus, a seven month old baby, a child aged three, and a boy fourteen years of age. In AESTAS (Summer) a man and a woman are holding a urinal. In AUTUMNUS (Fall) the couple seems to be in the prime of life; the emphasis is on sexual vigor and fertility. In HYEMS (Winter) the man has turned his back towards the viewer, and the woman is stepping into the grave. Each print contains an astrological arch, with the signs of the zodiac, astrological-medical and meteorological data, in addition to maps or charts. Two aspectuaria and a horoscope illustrate the Fall of life: AUTUMNUS. There are also urinals in each print, which refer to hermetic symbolism. A rich background with birds, various flowers of the season, human figures and villages, can be found in all four prints, which also contain pennants, banderoles and inscribed leaves with moral proverbs and Hippocratic texts, as well as other classical texts, all in Latin translation. Some text is in Greek. The plates are of unknown origin and date. The many references to hermetic medicine and the dominant idea of the symbolism of the Macrocosmos/Microcosmos may lead to the conclusion that the design was meant for a person of high birth, as was fashionable in Europe during the 16th and 17th century. Unsolved, however, remain the questions: Who was this person? And especially: Who made the engravings? Who is stepping into the open grave? The possibility also remains that we are dealing with popular prints, once widely spread. Internal evidence that the copperplates are worn out points in this direction. EB; 16.0 X 11.2 X 0.5 inches; 109 pages.…
Seller Inventory # 59261
Bibliographic details
- Title
- The Four Seasons of Human Life Four Anonymous Engravings from the Trent Collection
- Author
- Luyendijk-Elshout, A M, Ed.
- Publisher
- Erasmus Publishing, EB
- Publication year
- 2002
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 9052351368
- ISBN 13
- 9789052351360
Last Exit Books
Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since December 6, 2005
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 5.29 | £ 10.60 |
Payment methods
Store description
I have been selling books for more than 20 years. I am a specialist in out of print and rare academic titles, art, history, military history and what I like to loosely describe as "Old and Interesting." Here is a helpful list of book terms that I use: Terms for Describing Condition These terms apply to books, dust jackets and magazines. As New is when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published. There are no defects and the dust jacket, if issued with one, is perfect. Fine approaches the condition of "As New," but without being crisp. There may be minor defects, which are noted. Very Good describes a book that does show some small signs of wear but no tears on either binding or paper. Any defects are noted. Good describes the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. All defects are noted. Fair is a well-worn book that has complete text pages but may lack endpapers, half title page, etc. All defects are noted. Poor describes a book that is sufficiently worn so that its only merit is as a reading copy. This book may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc. All defects are noted. Ex-library books are always noted as such regardless of condition. Book Club Editions (BCE) are always noted as such regardless of condition. Boards are the actual hardcover material of the cover, front and back. Bookplate is usually a square illustrated sticker on which an owner writes his or her name, or on which the author has signed his or her name. Bumped refers to the bent or rounded corners of the boards. Browning or tanning refers to brown or tan looking pages or page edges that appear in some older books. Chip is a tiny piece missing from the edge of the dust jacket. Closed tear is a tiny rip in the dust jacket, but no material is missing (as in a chip). It can be "shut" and protected from further tearing with a Mylar cover. Cocked means the book is no longer square. If laid down, the book appears to be pushed (slanted) forward or backward from the spine. Creasing is where the dust jacket or pages have been bent, and then returned to its original state. Dampstain is a tan or gray stain resulting from water or other liquid damage. End papers or pastedowns are the sheets of paper pasted onto the inner covers, joining the book block to the covers. One side of the sheet is pasted to the inside cover, the other is left free (see FFEP). FFEP stands for front free-endpaper. This is the first page of any book. Though usually blank, it is a common place for an inscription. Foxing is the term used for the rust colored spots which occur on paper. This is the result of oxidation of both organic and iron impurities left behind during the paper making process. Front, top or bottom edge: These are the outside page edges. Loose is what happens to a book which has been read several times. The cover easily flaps open and the pages do not return to a tight condition. Heal or tail is the bottom of the spine. Head is the top of the spine. Mass-Market paperback is the most common paperback book, about four inches wide and seven inches high. Seen most often as "popular" fiction, science fiction and romance books. Mylar cover is the clear film that most fine bookshops use to cover and protect the dust jackets. Spine separation occurs at the head (top) of the spine where the fingers grab and pull the book from the shelf. After repeated pulling, the glue holding the outer spine board to the inner binding separates. Sunned is the fading of paper or binding as a result of sun exposure. Trade paperback is a softcover book which is generally large in size and made of better quality materials than a Mass-Market paperback. Wraps are the outer covers of a softcover (paperback) book or pamphlet.…
Specialty
Modern First Editions, Military History, Natural History, Anthropology, Art, Literature, History, Archaeology, Design, JudaicaSeller's business information
Last Exit Books
VA, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
All items described to the best of my ability.
Returns are considered if the item is sent within 14 days of receipt with an
email explanation sent to me first or if the item fails to match the description
or if there was damage to the order. All refunds processed upon the receipt of
the book.
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check clears.
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INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDER, otherwise a surcharge will apply.
All refunds processed upon the receipt of the book. Shipping charges will be
refunded only if the item fails to match the description in the catalog.
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If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Last Exit Books, Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.A., +1 434-282-1318, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, I will contact you to let you know that a shipping surcharge might be required.
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Most books going overseas (unless it is 4to or larger) are shipped via USPS Global Priority Mail.