The Refin'd Courtier, or, A Correction of Several Indecencies Crept into Civil Conversation.

The scarce second edition of this English translation of the famous Il Galateo, Giovanni della Casa's magnum opus on etiquette. The first English translation of Il Galateo overo de" costumi, Giovanni della Casa's work on polite societal behaviour, originally published in 1558. This translation attributed to Nathaniel Walker, first printed in 1663.This, the second edition, ESTC R231266. Bound in contemporary panelled, speckled calf with the spine rebacked and end papers renewed. Containing two pages of publisher's advertisements, bound to the rear. Collated, lacking the frontispiece portrait. Pagination incorrectly printed as 1-72, 71-233pp., as called for in this edition. Signatures run as follows; A12 (-A1); B-K12; L12; (-L12). Florentine poet Giovanni della Casa became the undisputed authority on early modern European etiquette, thanks to this work. Embodying an aging uncle, della Casa offers his young nephew tidbits of practical advice on the correct way to behave in polite society. He covers polite conversational topics, dinner etiquette and contemporary fashion, all in a colloquial and instructive tone, well captured by Walker. A fascinating translation of the culturally significant work of early modern manners. Bound in contemporary panelled, speckled calf. Spine rebacked with end papers renewed. Earlier morocco spine lable retained. Externally, very smart. Some loss from rubbing to very extremities of boards. Rebacked spine with some light marking and rubbing to head and tail. Small chip to spine label. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright with characteristic age toning. The occasional handling mark or ink underlining in places. Very slight tiding to page perimiters in odd places, text unobscurred. Collated, lacking the frontispiece. Very Good. …