1820 ARTE DE FURTAR King João IV Jesuit Vieira Portuguese SATIRE Corruption Rare

1820 ARTE DE FURTAR King João IV Jesuit Vieira Portuguese SATIRE Corruption London Edition

Commonly titled Arte de Furtar, this satirical Portuguese work has long been attributed—though controversially—to Father António Vieira (1608–1697), a renowned Jesuit priest and writer. This edition was published in London in 1820 by T. C. Hansard, replicating or reissuing the text purportedly composed in 1652 for King João IV. Although the ascription to Vieira remains disputed, the book itself is essentially a moral and political commentary framed as an ironic “guide” on theft and corruption, using wit and biblical references to critique the economic, social, and governmental ills of Portugal. The front matter often includes an engraved portrait of Vieira (or a more generic likeness) and dedicatory notes connecting the text to contemporary aristocrats or patrons, underscoring its dual purpose as both a cautionary treatise and a literary curiosity.

Item number: #25715

Price: $499

VIEIRA, António

Arte de Furtar, Espelho de Enganos, Theatro de Verdades, Mostrador de Horas Minguadas, Gazua Geral dos Reynos de Portugal. Offerecida a Elrey Nosso Nehor D. Joao IV. Composta no Anno de 1652, Pelo Padre Antonio Vieyra.

Londres: Na Officina de T.C. Hansard, 1820.

Details:

• Collation: Complete
  • xxiv, [2], 428
• Provenance: Bookplate – William Stirling
  • Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet, (1818–1878) was a Scottish historical writer, art historian and politician. Until 1865, when he inherited the title of Baronet of Pollock and added the surname Maxwell, he was known as William Stirling, and several of his books were published under that name. He was Chancellor of the University of Glasgow from 1875 until his death and was also a Knight of the Thistle, considered the highest honor that can be conferred by the Crown on a Scotsman. Numerous iterations of Stirling-Maxwell’s bookplates have been identified; the monogrammed W. S. present in this bookplate is no exception, along with the inclusion of one of his mottos—NON MORTALE QUOD OPTO. Additionally, the embossed supralibros on both the front and rear boards of this novel have been attributed to Maxwell-Stirling.
• Language: Portuguese
• Binding: Leather; tight and secure
• Size: ~8.5in X 5.5in (21.5cm x 14cm)
• Quite rare

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25715