Various - Notes and Queries, Number 185, May 14, 1853

It is a remarkable circumstance that whilst the emblems of Alciatus Vent through almost innumerable editions, and were translated into most of the continental languages, no version of these Emblems should ever have been printed in this country, although we believe that MS. translations of them are in existence. It is remarkable also that more than half century should have elapsed after their appearance, before any English publication on this subject should have been committed to the press. Our English authors of Books of Emblems were not only late in their appearance, but are few in number, and in their embellishments not very original, the plates being for the most part mere copies of those already published abroad by Herman Hugo, Rollenhagius, and others. The notices of the English writers on this entertaining subject are also but meagre and imperfect, and restricted to a very few works; both Dibdin, in his slight and rapid sketch on Books of Emblems in the Bibliogr. Decam. , vol. i. p. 254., and the writer in the Retrosp. Rev. , vol. ix. p. 123., having confined their remarks to some one or two of the leading writers only, Arwaker, Peacham, Quarles, Whitney, and Wither. With the exception of an occasional article in the Bibl. Ang. Poet. , Cens. Liter. Restituta , and similar bibliographical volumes, we are not aware that any other notice has been taken of this particular branch of our literature 1 1 We must exempt from this sweeping assertion a very interesting and well-written account of works on this subject, entitled "A Sketch of that Branch of Literature called Books of Emblems, as it flourished during the 16th and 17th centuries, by Joseph Brooks Yates, Esq., F.S.A.," of West Dingle, near Liverpool, the friend of Roscoe, and the worthy and intelligent President of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool, read at their meetings, and of which two parts have already been printed in their volumes of Proceedings . This "Sketch" only requires to be enlarged and completed, with specimens added of the different styles of the engravings, to render it everything that is to be desired on the subject. , nor does there exist, that we know of, any complete, separate, and distinct catalogue of such works.

Being anxious, therefore, to obtain a correct account of what may be termed the English Series of Books of Emblems, I inclose a list of all those in my own possession, and of the titles of such others as I have been able to collect; and I shall be glad if any of your readers can make any additions to the series, confining them at the same time strictly to Books of Emblems, and not admitting fables, heraldic works, or older publications not coming within the same category. A good comprehensive work on this subject of Books of Emblems, not confined merely to the English series, but embracing the whole foreign range, giving an account both of the writers of the verses, and also of the engravers, and the different styles of art in each, is still a great desideratum in our literary history; and if ably and artistically done, with suitable illustrations of the various engravings and other ornaments, would form a very interesting, instructive, and entertaining volume; and I sincerely hope that the time will not be far distant when such a volume will be found in our libraries.

I conclude with a Query of inquiry, whether anything is known of the present resting-place of a Treatise on Emblems , which the late Mr. Beloe informs us, at the close of his Literary Anecdotes , vol. vi. p. 406., he had written at "considerable length," from communications furnished him by the Marquis of Blandford, whose collection of Emblems was at that time one of the richest and most extensive in the kingdom, and whose treatise, if published, might perhaps prove a valuable addition to our information on this portion of our literature.

I would also inquire who was Thomas Combe, and what did he write, who is thus mentioned by Meres in his Palladis Tamia: Wits Treasury , Lond. 1598, 8vo., as one of our English writers of Emblems: "As the Latines have those emblematists, Andreas Alciatus, Reusnerus, and Sambucus, so we have these, Geffrey Whitney, Andrew Willet, and Thomas Combe ." Is anything known of the latter, or of his writings?

Stand Rectory.

A. (H.) Parthenia Sacra, of the Mysterious and Delicious Garden of the Sacred Parthenis: Symbolically set forth and enriched with Pious Devises and Emblems for the entertainment of devout Soules, &c. By H. A. Plates. 8vo. Printed by John Cousturier, 1633.

Abricht (John A. M.). Divine Emblems. Embellished with Etchings of Copper after the fashion of Master Francis Quarles. 12mo. Lond. 1838.

Arwaker (Edmund). Pia Desideria, or Divine Addresses in Three Books. With 47 Copper Plates by Sturt. 8vo. Lond. 1686.

Ashrea: or the Grove of Beatitudes. Represented in Emblemes: and by the Art of Memory to be read on our Blessed Saviour Crucified, &c. 12mo. Lond. 1665.

Astry (Sir James). The Royal Politician represented in One Hundred Emblems. Written in Spanish by Don Diego Saavedra Faxardo, &c. Done into English from the Original. By Sir James Astry. In Two Vols. With Portrait of William Duke of Gloucester, and other Plates. 8vo. Lond. 1700. Printed for Matthew Gylliflower.

Ayres (Philip). Emblemata Amatoria. Emblems of Love in Four Languages. Dedicated to the Ladys. By Ph. Ayres, Esq. With 44 Plates on Copper. 8vo. Lond. 1683.

Barclay (Alexander). 2 2 Perhaps this, and the works of Colman and Heywood, are scarcely to be considered as Books of Emblems . The Ship of Fooles, wherein is shewed the folly of all States, &c. Translated out of Latin into Englishe. With numerous Woodcuts. Imprinted by John Cawood. Folio, bl. letter, Lond. 1570.

Blount (Thomas). The Art of making Devises: treating of Hieroglyphicks, Symboles, Emblemes, Ænigmas, &c. Translated from the French of Henry Estienne. 4to. Lond. 1646.

Bunyan (John). Emblems by J. Bunyan. [I have not seen this work, but suspect it is only a common chap-book. A copy was in one of Lilly's Catalogues.]

Burton (R.). Choice Emblems, Divine and Moral, Ancient and Modern; or Delights for the Ingenious in above Fifty Select Emblems, Curiously Ingraven upon Copper Plates. With engraved Frontispiece, &c. 12mo. Lond. 1721. Printed for Edmund Parker.

Castanoza (John). The Spiritual Conflict, or The Arraignment of the Spirit of Selfe-Love and Sensuality at the Barre of Truth and Reason. First published in Spanish by the Reverend Father John Castanoza, afterwards put into the Latin, Italian, German, French, and English Languages. With numerous Engravings. 12mo. at Paris, 1652.

Choice Emblems, Natural, Historical, Fabulous, Moral, and Divine. 12mo. Lond. 1772.

Colman (W.). La Dance Machabre, or Death's Duell, by W. C. With engraved Frontispiece by Cecil, and Plate. 8vo. Lond. 163—.

Compendious Emblematist; or Writing and Drawing made easy. With many Plates. 4to. Lond.

Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural, and Historical, Expressed in Sculpture, and applied to the several Ages, Occasions, and Conditions of the Life of Man. By a Person of Quality. With Woodcut Engravings and Metrical Illustrations. 8vo. Lond. 1673. Printed by J. C. for Will. Miller.

Emblems for the Entertainment and Improvement of Youth, with Explanations, on 62 Copper Plates. White Knights. 8vo. n. d., Part I.

Emblems of Mortality. With Holbein's Cuts of the Dance of Death, modernized and engraved by Bewick. Three Editions. 8vo. Lond. 1789.