An intellectually important work, preserved in an exceptionally valuable contemporary binding.
János Laskai (1605?–after 1657), Reformed bishop, later a poet and theologian associated with the court of István Bethlen, and a multiple envoy to the Ottoman Porte. During his years of study in Leiden he became acquainted with the work of Justus Lipsius (1547–1606), the Dutch legal philosopher and the most significant philologist of his age. Laskai translated several books by Lipsius; the present volume is a complete Hungarian translation of Politicorum sive civilis doctrinae libri sex (Leiden, 1589). This work is considered Lipsius’s principal opus and exerted a long-lasting influence on European political thought. The book addressed both theoretical thinkers and practical politicians, placing strong emphasis on outlining the ideal portrait of the political leader of any given age. Laskai dedicated the book to György Madarasz, a merchant of Eperjes (Prešov) and confidant of György I Rákóczi. The translation had a major impact on Transylvanian and Hungarian society and political life.

Bound in a contemporary olive-colored, richly gilt, fan-decorated maroquin binding. On the boards, at the center, a gilt floral motif divided into petal-like segments, extended with small tools (petits fers) creating additional gilt decoration. As space fillers, pointed ornamental elements are attached above and below the palmette. At the corners, quarter-circles formed from petals identical to those of the central motif. The boards are framed by multiple gilt borders executed with small tools and a roll. The spine is ribbed; in the four compartments, roll-tooled gilt decoration surrounds a lozenge-shaped gilt motif. The edges are gilt, but without the usual engraved decoration.

Fan-decorated bindings are typically “court bindings”: they were not produced as durable and inexpensive bindings for a general readership, but rather for patrons (kings, queens, and members of the ruling elite, very often aristocratic ladies). In their materials as well as in the processing and decoration of those materials, these bindings form a worthy part of the dazzling splendor of Baroque life. In Hungary—more precisely in Transylvania—examples of this type of binding can be found uniquely in Cluj (Kolozsvár), among the works of the court bindery of Mihály Apafi, who favored French Baroque magnificence, and of the princess consort, beginning in the year 1673. Based on the date of publication, stylistic features, and comparison of binding tools, the present binding is probably not Hungarian but rather French or Netherlandish work.

To our great regret, the book contains no ownership inscription that would identify the luxury-loving Hungarian magnate who commissioned the binding. To date, in the commercial antiquarian market—apart from sporadically appearing remboîtage (married) copies—we have encountered neither a fan-decorated Hungarian-language RMNY item nor another copy of this work. The auction of this lot therefore unquestionably constitutes an antiquarian sensation.

There is a barely noticeable professional repair at the top and bottom of the spine; the gilt decoration of the binding is slightly worn. The text leaves are remarkably clean and fresh. Provenance: with a 19th-century rubber stamp reading “Library of the Royal Academy of Košice” on the verso of the title page and on the final leaf.

RMNy 1867; Benkő 349 (1640); Simon–Szabó 144

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