Colloquia

Creator

Desiderius Erasmus

Files

Document Type

Original text

Keywords

Erasmus. Colloquia

Brief Description

This copy of Erasmus’ Colloguies, first published in 1518, was printed in Amsterdam. These were written by Erasmus as examples of discourse for his students. Some have said that these discourses, once collected and printed, were so profound that it is not a stretch to say they helped speed the Reformation.

Context

The major contribution of Erasmus to the advancement of the Reformation was his publication in 1516 of a Greek-Latin parallel New Testament which became foundational to much of the translation work of the reformers. His translation and correction of the Latin Vulgate from the Greek was much more accurate and reliable than the version used by the Roman Church. This work of Erasmus focused attention on just how inaccurate the Latin Vulgate Bible had become and how important it was to go back to the original Greek so that the translations of the Scriptures in the languages of the common man could be accurately and faithfully completed. The subsequent versions of Erasmus' Greek New Testament became known as the Textus Receptus.

Provenance

Description from Phillip J. Priages Catalogue 57:

18th century burgundy morocco covers gilt with French fillets and marbled endpapers. Woodcut initials, headpieces, and tailpieces, fine engraved title page by C.C. Dusend showing Erasmus gazing through a telescope at the Godly orb seen through partial clouds. First blank with the ink monogram of Edwin Wolf II and ink inscription "V. Caillard, 1811" (apparently referring to Antoine Bernard Caillard's sale of 1810)

Country or Place of Origin

Amsterdam

Language

Latin

Publisher of the Original

Ex officina Elzeviriana

Location

Amsterdam

Publication Date of the Original

1643