A collection of anecdotes, witticisms and facetiae of famous men, first published just a year before; it contains sayings, some serious and others amusing, attributed to respected recent figures, including Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor (r.1452-93), the popular preacher Johann Geiler von Kaisersberg (1445 – 1510), and the renaissance patron Alfonso, King of Naples (r. 1494-5).

This collection, gathered and introduced by the early XVI century doctor, translator, and chronicler Johannes Adelphus, is rare on the market: we could trace only two copies of this edition at auction in the last 35 years.

18 x 13 cm. 100 leaves, slight soiling to title, a few instances of period ink in margins, upper margin tight and in some cases shaved into headlines, full 19th century calf with spine lettered in gilt, Stirling-Maxwell's copy with his devices to boards in blind, small scuffs to spine, edges rubbed, title laid down and with period ink and engraved bookplate laid on, upper cover detached, worn.