Consolationis philosophiae libros quinque interpretatione et notis illustravit Petrus Callyus [...], jussi christianissimi regis, in usum serenissimi Delphini

4to (249x178 mm). Engraved frontispiece, [40], 352, [58] pp. Collation: a⁴ e⁴ i⁴ o⁴ u⁴ A-Xx⁴ Yy- Mmm² χ¹. The frontispiece shows the coat-of-arms of the Dauphin of France, a portrait of Boethius and a vessel with the figure of Apollo enchanting a fish with his zither. Printer's device on title page, two large engraved headpieces (ll. a2r and A1r), woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces. Contemporary vellum over boards, lettering piece on spine, sprinkled edges. Ownership's entry on title page (“Gulielmi Rabi. Lcti. CI?I?CCIII”). Some quires slightly uniformly browned. A very good copy.

Second printing of the edition “ad usum Delphini” of Severinus Boethius's De consolatione philosophiae (the first edition was printed in 1680 by Roulland), edited by Pierre Callyus and considered as the best edition to date. The expression “ad usum Delphin” was used on the title pages of classical Greek and Latin texts meant for the education of the heir to the French throne, Louis the Great Dauphin, son of King Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Habsburg. Passages in these texts could be censored if considered inappropriate for the Dauphin's young age. The collection comprises 64 volumes printed between 1670 and 1698 by order of the Grand Dauphin's tutor, Charles de Sainte-Maure, Duke of Montausier, and under the supervision of Jacques Bénigne Bossuet and Pierre-Daniel Huet. This edition is accompanied by an extensive set of erudite notes and enriched by a detailed lexicon at the end of the volume.

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