Albrecht von Eyb's Little Book on Marriage

Albrecht von Eyb's Little Book on Marriage – Ink. 232 – Guido Pressler – Gutenberg-Museum Mainz (Mainz, Germany)

Anton Koberger Print Workshop (Nuremberg, Germany) — 1472

An enlightening treatise for bachelors: Albrecht von Eyb's popular work on the pros and cons of marriage and starting a family, peppered with wisdom from Boccaccio and a dedication to the Nuremberg City Council

  1. Albrecht von Eyb (1420–1475) was a Franconian nobleman and early German humanist

  2. He dedicated the original German manuscript to Nuremberg’s city council in 1472

  3. It is based on an earlier Latin work of his from 1460 and also cites Boccaccio (1313–75)

Albrecht von Eyb's Little Book on Marriage

Ink. 232 Gutenberg-Museum Mainz (Mainz, Germany)
  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Albrecht von Eyb's Little Book on Marriage

The so-called EhebĂŒchlein or “Little Book on Marriage” is a text in which the author debates whether or not a man ought to take a wife and in the end advocates for marriage. Curiously, the original manuscript was dedicated to Nuremberg’s city council in 1472, perhaps a metaphor for families being the building blocks of society. It is the work of the Franconian nobleman and early German humanist Albrecht von Eyb, who received an extensive education in both Germany and Italy. Aside from translating Boccaccio’s Decameron, Albrecht attained fame for his treatise on the benefits of taking a wife, which is evident from the numerous editions that were published in the decades after his death.

Albrecht von Eyb's Little Book on Marriage

This popular EhebĂŒchlein or “Little Book on Marriage” by Albrecht von Eyb (1420–1475) was dedicated to the city council of Nuremberg in 1472. This German text is actually based on an earlier work of Albrecht’s from 1460 written in Latin on the same theme An viro sapienti uxor sit ducenda. The work discusses whether or not a man ought to take a wife and considers both the joys and sorrows of married life. Various moralizing or philosophical maxims are sprinkled throughout the work. In the end, the author advocates in favor of marriage and cites novellas by Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-75), which Albrecht personally translated from Italian. According to him, in marriage “all good and evil is held in common, the good all the happier, the adversity all the lighter because shared by two.” By the end of the 15th century, no less than 9 editions had been published, with 12 editions printed by 1540 – a testament to the enduring popularity of Albrecht’s work.

An Early German Humanist

Born into a Franconian noble family in 1420, Albrecht von Eyb was one of the earliest German humanists. After his initial education in theology and law in Erfurt, Albrecht continued his studies at the Universities of Bologna, Padua, and Pavia, where he received his doctorate on February 7th, 1459. In the same year he received the title of chamberlain from Pope Pius II (1405-64) before finally returning to Germany in the fall. In spite of the fact that he had spent most of the time in Italy. Albrecht became a canon in EichstĂ€tt in 1444, in Bamberg in 1452, and in WĂŒrzburg in 1462. He spent the last years of his life in EichstĂ€tt and Bamberg.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Albrecht von Eyb: EhebĂŒchlein
Little Book on Marriage
Origin
Germany
Date
1472
Style
Language
Illustrations
Numerous, colored initials
Content
EhebĂŒchlein: Ob einem manne sey zunemen ein eelichs weyb oder nicht' or Little Book of Marriage
Artist / School

Available facsimile editions:
Albrecht von Eyb's Little Book on Marriage – Ink. 232 – Guido Pressler – Gutenberg-Museum Mainz (Mainz, Germany)
Guido Pressler – Wiesbaden, 1966
Limited Edition: 400 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Anton von Eyb EhebĂŒchlein

Guido Pressler – Wiesbaden, 1966

Publisher: Guido Pressler – Wiesbaden, 1966
Limited Edition: 400 copies
Commentary: 1 volume
Language: German
1 volume: This facsimile is not complete. Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)
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