385.00€
Rare and important first edition of Στιχουργήματα διάφορα (Miscellaneous Poems) by Andreas Laskaratos (1811–1901), one of the most distinctive and influential satirical writers of nineteenth-century Greece. Printed in Kefalonia in 1872 by the local printing house Η Κεφαλληνία.
An attractive and complete first edition of an important collection by Andreas Laskaratos, the celebrated Kefalonian writer whose fearless satire challenged social hypocrisy, political incompetence, religious authority and the conventions of nineteenth-century Greek society.
This is the original 1872 edition, comprising γ′ + 232 pages in octavo, and is an important publication in the literary history of the Ionian Islands and modern Greek literature.
The book is preserved in an attractive contemporary half-leather binding, with a red pebbled leather spine, raised bands and gilt lettering, over period marbled boards.
Andreas Laskaratos (1811–1901) was one of the most remarkable literary figures of nineteenth-century Greece and an important representative of the Heptanese School (Επτανησιακή Σχολή).
Born in Lixouri, Kefalonia, he was educated in the Ionian Islands and subsequently studied law in Italy and France. His literary career developed within the rich intellectual and cultural environment of the Ionian Islands, where he came into contact with important figures of the Heptanese literary tradition.
Laskaratos became particularly famous for his uncompromising satire and social criticism. He attacked hypocrisy, corruption, social inequality, political incompetence and what he regarded as abuses within religious and social institutions.
His outspoken nature brought him into serious conflict with the ecclesiastical establishment. His 1856 work Τα Μυστήρια της Κεφαλονιάς (The Mysteries of Kefalonia) caused considerable controversy and resulted in his excommunication by the Orthodox Church.
The years that followed saw Laskaratos continue to defend his ideas through literary and polemical writing. His 1872 Στιχουργήματα διάφορα belongs to this mature period and represents an important stage in his poetic and satirical work.
The collection brings together Laskaratos’s characteristic mixture of satire, humour, social observation, autobiography and criticism.
Among the poems and pieces associated with the collection are:
The opening «Προβόδισμα», accompanied by a prose introduction, is particularly interesting for understanding Laskaratos’s satirical purpose and his views concerning freedom of expression.
The collection is also significant for the development and literary use of the Greek vernacular, reflecting Laskaratos’s distinctive Kefalonian voice and his determination to write for a broader Greek readership rather than confining himself to the formal literary conventions of the period.
Modern literary references identify Στιχουργήματα διάφορα as an important part of Laskaratos’s poetic output, with the 1872 edition representing the original publication of the collection.
The place of publication is particularly significant.
The book was printed in Kefalonia, Laskaratos’s birthplace and the setting that provided much of the subject matter and inspiration for his satirical writing.
The original title-page imprint reads:
Εν Κεφαλληνία, τύποις Ἡ Κεφαλληνία, 1872
The 1872 edition is bibliographically recorded as a first edition, in octavo, with γ′ + 232 pages. Standard Greek bibliographical references, including Iliou & Polemis and Legrand & Pernot, record the edition.
The survival of a nineteenth-century book printed locally in Kefalonia adds another dimension to its appeal. It is not only an important work of Greek literature, but also a document of the printing and intellectual culture of the Ionian Islands.
The book is preserved in an attractive contemporary half-leather binding.
The spine is covered in red pebbled leather, with raised bands and gilt lettering, while the boards are covered in period marbled paper.
The binding remains solid and structurally sound, and the text block is firmly bound.
The attractive period binding enhances the desirability of the book as a collectible nineteenth-century Greek literary work.
Complete, with no missing pages.
The book is in good to very good antiquarian condition, considering its age.
The paper displays the natural age-toning and occasional foxing expected in a Greek book of the nineteenth century. There are also a small number of neat contemporary marginal annotations/notes, which add an interesting layer of historical character to the individual copy.
There are no library stamps or institutional markings.
The binding shows the normal signs of age and use but remains structurally sound.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition description.
Author: Andreas Laskaratos (Ανδρέας Λασκαράτος), 1811–1901
Title: Στιχουργήματα διάφορα
Full title: Στιχουργήματα διάφορα, εκδοθέντα επιμελεία και ενεργεία φιλομούσων τινών νέων
Place of publication: Κεφαλληνία (Kefalonia)
Printer: Τύποις «Ἡ Κεφαλληνία»
Year: 1872
Edition: First Edition
Language: Greek
Format: Octavo (8vo)
Extent: γ′ + 232 pages
Dimensions: approximately 23.5 × 15.5 cm
Binding: Contemporary half-leather over marbled boards
Condition: Good to very good antiquarian condition
Special features: Complete first edition; attractive period binding; contemporary marginal annotations
This is a particularly attractive example of the genuine 1872 first edition of an important work by Andreas Laskaratos.
Its appeal lies in the combination of:
A compelling acquisition for collectors of Greek literature, Ionian history, nineteenth-century printing, Greek satire, poetry, Kefalonian history and antiquarian books.
A rare opportunity to acquire an original nineteenth-century Kefalonian edition by one of modern Greece’s most memorable and uncompromising literary voices.
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description.
