PAPEUS, Petrus

Samarites comoedia de Samaritano evangelico

      sub intersignio Rubri Castri (Typis Guilhelmi Montani), Antwerp 1539 - Recent full calf tooled in blind and gilt in a fine antique style 8vo . This Latin school comedy "The Samarian" was the most popular work by the Flemish dramatist, Petrus Papeus (fl. 1537-1541), who worked as a school rector in the West Flanders town of Meenen. It was, according to the preface, written to be performed in June 1537. This may be the first edition with Nijhoff & Kronenberg listing two editions that were published in the Southern Netherlands in 1539 with the other appearing in the small Flemish town of Bois le Duc by Ger. van der Hatart (N. & K. 4417). The work was reprinted the same year in Cologne along with Erasmus' "Carmen bucolicum" (cf. Vander Hagen III, p. 45). For a detailed account of the story line see his article in the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie volume 25, p. 141. The work was very popular and became a staple of school play collections throughout the 16th and 17th century. A very nice copy of this rare neo-Latin comedy, handsomely printed with a very attractive woodcut title-border. The OCLC locates only two copies in US libraries (University of Chicago and University of Illinois) and none of the Bois le Duc imprint [32] pp. Fine architectural woodcut title border and woodcut printer's device on last leaf; woodcut head and tail pieces; Roman type; contemporary inscriptions on title-page. § Nijhoff & Kronenberg, Nederlandsche Bibliographie van 1500 tot 1540, I no. 1676; BM/STC Dutch p.165. [Attributes: Hard Cover]