DUFF, E. Gordon ( editor ).

The Dialogue or Communing between the Wise King Salomon and Marcolphus [ Solomon and Marcolf ].

London: Lawrence & Bullen, 1892. First Edition. Hardcover. Large octavo. xxvi + [36pp.] + 46pp. Black cloth spine lettered in gilt, blue cloth boards. B/w frontis. & several other b/w illustrations. Stated limited edition of 350 copies, but this copy unnumbered (as typical with this edition). A facsimile of Gerard Leeu's 1492 edition of "The Dialogue or Communing between the Wise King Salomon and Marcolphus", with a freshly typeset transcription (the original black letter can be hard to read) and an extensive introduction. "Salomon and Marcolphus" (Solomon and Marcolf) is a well-known medieval narrative which recounts the adventures and discussion of the two proponents, the Biblical King Solomon and a cunning peasant, Marcolphus. The wily peasant frequently runs circles around the wise King, and the works seems to be rich in metaphor: cumbersome established religion versus upstart mysticism, etc. etc. Parts seem to have strong kabbalistic overtones, causing some scholars to argue that it has an eastern origin. Spine ends slightly rubbed, minor rubbing to boards, small bumps to corners of boards, page-edges browned, toning to outer page margins, pen underline to two lines of text on page xiii, offsetting to endpapers. Still a solid VG example of an attractive edition. Item #52631

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