Examen de la liberté originaire de Venise – Amelot de La Houssaye – 1677 | False Imprint, Political Censorship

“Examen de la liberte originaire de Venise” was published in 1677 as part of Amelot de la Houssaye’s “History of the Government of Venice”. Published as the third supplemental volume, this book was actually a direct translation of an anonymously published work “Squitinio della liberta veneta” often attributed to Marcus Welser and translted by Houssaye, who, also did not include his name on the work. It exposed the Venetian government and claimed that freedom was for the nobles and not for all citizens.

“Government of Venice” as well as its supplements like “Examen” were heavily censored and banned, and ultimately caused Houssaye to be imprisoned in the Bastille for his political criticism.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Examen de la liberté originaire de Venise
• Author(s): Marcus Welser [attrib.]
• Illustrator(s):
• Contributor(s): Amelot de La Houssaye (Translator)
• Publisher: à Ratisbonne, Chez J. Aubri (false imprint); actual: Jean Ribbius, Utrecht
• Edition: First French edition, 1677
• Format: (16mo), single volume
• Binding: Full leather, gilt spine, marbled endpapers
• Size:  6.25 in x 3.75 in (15.9 cm x 9.5 cm)
• Collation: 239, [1]
• Contents Include:
  • “Squitinio della libertà veneta” translated into French
  • Supplementary political critique on Venice
• Provenance: provenance
• Reference(s): Rahir

Condition:

Very Good. Binding strong with minor wear at corners; gilt spine titling clear. Marbled endpapers complete. Minor page discoloration, few stains, overall clean. All pages complete.

Why Collect This?

• Printed under false imprint to evade censorship
• Translation of a suppressed political work
• Early French criticism of Venetian government controversy

Item Number: # 28938