ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM (1466-1536). Moriae Encomium (title in Greek) sive Stultitiae Laus. Basel: G. Haas, J. J. Thurneisen, 1780. 8vo (200 x 125 mm). With 83 illustrations cut in wood by Heinrich Heitz after Hans Holbein. Bound in nineteenth-century half brown calf over marbled boards, spine ruled and tooled in gilt in compartments, 5 raised bands, burgundy gilt morocco lettering label, top edge gilt, marbled endleaves (spine and board-edges toned and somewhat worn, some wear to binding, text foxed, many leaves unopened, p. 215 chipped at lower margin (no loss of text), p. 323 chipped at fore-edge (no loss of text), a few short tears in text). FIRST EDITION OF “IN PRAISE OF FOLLY” ILLUSTRATED WITH ALL 83 DRAWINGS AFTER HANS HOLBEIN. First published in 1511, In Praise of Folly is a largely satirical work in which the goddess, Folly, praises herself, madness, and deception, this transitions to a not so veiled criticism of the Catholic Church’s perceived corruption. Despite Erasmus’ own misgivings about the reception of this work, most people (including Pope Leo X) found Moriae Encomium amusing.