1682 - 17th Century Defense of Polygamy
Lyser was a Lutheran Pastor born in Leipzig in 1631 to a long line of theologians. This volume is the third and most complete edition of his history and defense of Polygamy through the ages. Lyser argued that polygamy was not only lawful, but a blessed estate commanded by God (Ditchfield, Books Fatal to their Authors, 1894 p. 56). This book was first published in 1674, causing an uproar in Europe. In 1677, the King of Denmark ordered the entire edition to be destroyed and the author was threatened with capital punishment. That’s why the book was later published under the name Theophilus Aletheus. Alas, his pseudonym did not prevent Lyser from being imprisoned, beaten, and exiled from Italy to the Netherlands. This is an unusually fine and beautiful copy of the superior 1682 edition of this book.
1682. Lyser (or Leyser), Johann (1631-1684), here under the pseudonym Theophilus Aletheus. POLYGAMIA TRIUMPHATRIX, Id est Discursus Politicus DE POLYGAMIA Auctore Theophil Aletheo, cum Notis Athanasii Vincentii, Omnibus Anti-Polygamis ubique locorum, terrarum, insularum, pagorum, urbium, modeste & pie opposita. Published by Sumtibus Authoris [for the author], Londini Scanorum (i.e., Lund in Sweden) but actually Amsterdam according to the British Library. Quarto later calf (rebacked) Titlepage +[7]pp To Reader +[1] blank +565pp +[1] blank + 532pp addenda & indexes +[2]pp blanks. Minor edge dusting/browning no foxing a clean tight copy in double column pages.
Lyser was a Lutheran Pastor born in Leipzig in 1631 to a long line of theologians. This volume is the third and most complete edition of his history and defense of Polygamy through the ages. Lyser argued that polygamy was not only lawful, but a blessed estate commanded by God (Ditchfield, Books Fatal to their Authors, 1894 p. 56). This book was first published in 1674, causing an uproar in Europe. In 1677, the King of Denmark ordered the entire edition to be destroyed and the author was threatened with capital punishment. That’s why the book was later published under the name Theophilus Aletheus. Alas, his pseudonym did not prevent Lyser from being imprisoned, beaten, and exiled from Italy to the Netherlands. This is an unusually fine and beautiful copy of the superior 1682 edition of this book.
1682. Lyser (or Leyser), Johann (1631-1684), here under the pseudonym Theophilus Aletheus. POLYGAMIA TRIUMPHATRIX, Id est Discursus Politicus DE POLYGAMIA Auctore Theophil Aletheo, cum Notis Athanasii Vincentii, Omnibus Anti-Polygamis ubique locorum, terrarum, insularum, pagorum, urbium, modeste & pie opposita. Published by Sumtibus Authoris [for the author], Londini Scanorum (i.e., Lund in Sweden) but actually Amsterdam according to the British Library. Quarto later calf (rebacked) Titlepage +[7]pp To Reader +[1] blank +565pp +[1] blank + 532pp addenda & indexes +[2]pp blanks. Minor edge dusting/browning no foxing a clean tight copy in double column pages.
Lyser was a Lutheran Pastor born in Leipzig in 1631 to a long line of theologians. This volume is the third and most complete edition of his history and defense of Polygamy through the ages. Lyser argued that polygamy was not only lawful, but a blessed estate commanded by God (Ditchfield, Books Fatal to their Authors, 1894 p. 56). This book was first published in 1674, causing an uproar in Europe. In 1677, the King of Denmark ordered the entire edition to be destroyed and the author was threatened with capital punishment. That’s why the book was later published under the name Theophilus Aletheus. Alas, his pseudonym did not prevent Lyser from being imprisoned, beaten, and exiled from Italy to the Netherlands. This is an unusually fine and beautiful copy of the superior 1682 edition of this book.
1682. Lyser (or Leyser), Johann (1631-1684), here under the pseudonym Theophilus Aletheus. POLYGAMIA TRIUMPHATRIX, Id est Discursus Politicus DE POLYGAMIA Auctore Theophil Aletheo, cum Notis Athanasii Vincentii, Omnibus Anti-Polygamis ubique locorum, terrarum, insularum, pagorum, urbium, modeste & pie opposita. Published by Sumtibus Authoris [for the author], Londini Scanorum (i.e., Lund in Sweden) but actually Amsterdam according to the British Library. Quarto later calf (rebacked) Titlepage +[7]pp To Reader +[1] blank +565pp +[1] blank + 532pp addenda & indexes +[2]pp blanks. Minor edge dusting/browning no foxing a clean tight copy in double column pages.