Emanuelis Thesauri [Emanuele Tesauro] - Emanuelis Thesauri, Comitis, Maiorumque Insignium Equitis, Idea Argutae Et Ingeniosae Dictionis: Ex - 1714

Emanuelis Thesauri, Comitis, Maiorumque Insignium Equitis, Idea Argutae Et Ingeniosae Dictionis: Ex Principiis Aristotelicis sic eruta, Ut In Universum Arti Oratoriae, & inprimis Lapidariae Atque Symbolicae Inserviat. Accessere ab autore adjecti tractatus duo; alter de argutis concionatorum enthymematis, alter de emblematis. Omnia ex Italico Latine conversa. - Emanuelis Thesauri [Emanuele Tesauro]

Coloniae [Cologne]: Apud Thomam Fritsch, 1714. [16], 596, [10] pages. 21cm x 16.5cm. Contemporary full vellum binding with a hand-lettered spine and red sprinkled edges. First edition thus of this seminal Baroque treatise on rhetoric, metaphor, and aesthetics by the Italian count, philosopher, and rhetorician Emanuele Tesauro (Emanuelis Thesauri, 1592–1675). Published in 1714 by the prominent publisher Thomas Fritsch, this work is the highly influential Latin translation of Tesauro's landmark 1654 Italian masterpiece Il Cannocchiale Aristotelico (“The Aristotelian Spyglass”). Operating on foundational Aristotelian principles, the book systematically dissects the mechanics of wit, poetic expression, and the “arguta diction” (clever or sharp speech). Rather than a dry textbook, Tesauro's work served as the absolute blueprint for the highly ornate European Baroque literary style. It outlines the master theory of metaphors and conceptual conceits (“concetti”), extending its rules beyond spoken oration to monumental stone inscriptions (the stone-carving arts, “arti lapidariae”) and early symbolic heraldry or emblems. To make this 1714 edition uniquely comprehensive, the publisher appended two additional specialized tracts by Tesauro: one specifically addressing the witty syllogisms of preachers (“de argutis concionatorum enthymematis”) and another focusing entirely on the construction of allegorical emblems (“de emblematis”). Comes with an engraved title vignette.
Very little rubbing, bumping, and wear to the boards and spine. The title page has several creases (see photos). Pencil markings on the verso of the title page. Some creases of the pages and the corners throughout. Browning and spotting throughout. The text is clear and the binding is solid. Overall, a well-preserved copy in good condition.