Ascham, Roger

Estimate

15,000 - 20,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

The Scholemaster or Plaine and Perfite Way of Teachyng Children, To Understand, Write, and Speake, the Latin Tong, but Specially Purposed for the Private Brynging up of Youth in Gentlemen and Noble Mens Houses, and Commodious Also for All Such, as Have Forgot the Latin Tonge, and Would, by Themselves, without à Scholemaster, in Short Tyme, and with Small Paines, Recover à Sufficient Habilitie, To Understand, Write, and Speake Latin. London: Printed by John Daye, 1570
paper, ink, leather

4to (7 5/8 x 5 1/4 in.; 194 x 133 mm). Title within border of printer's ornaments, text in black letter, large historiated and floriated woodcut initials, woodcut tailpieces, printer's device on colophon leaf T4 (McKerrow 128), contemporary marginalia particularly in the preliminaries and last two leaves; some marginal staining and foxing, quire R browned. Contemporary calf, strapwork oval gilt-stamped on both covers; repairs to spine.

Provenance

Tomas Barrington (signature on E3v) — Henry Hudson (acquisition note dated February 1862)

Literature

STC 832; ESTC 104387; Pforzheimer 15; PMM 90

Catalogue Note

First edition. Probably the most important Tudor work on education, a major influence on the development of classical humanism in Renaissance England. Ascham served as tutor to Princess (and to Queen) Elizabeth. The Scholemaster, supposedly written as the result of a dinner debate with Sir William Cecil on the subject of flogging children, propounds humane teaching methods. The work remained unpublished at his death, and the impetus for its appearance came from his widow, Margaret.