Bibliotheek Rotterdam acquires rare lost Erasmus book

Bibliotheek Rotterdam has acquired a rare ‘lost book’ for its UNESCO Erasmus collection. The item, titled ‘La civilité puerile’ (1609), is a French translation of Erasmus’ influential 1530 work, ‘De civilitate morum puerilium’, which focused on the moral and practical education of children.

According to curator John Tholen, this specific edition is the only surviving copy in the world from an original print run of approximately 1,000 copies. The book was acquired through an antiquarian from Austin, Texas, who recognized its significance to the Rotterdam collection.

The small, 80-page volume features a ‘civilité’ typeface designed by Robert Granjon, which mimics 16th-century handwriting. The acquisition is described as a missing piece in understanding the historical reach and influence of Erasmus’ educational philosophies.