Rotterdam Library acquires long-lost parenting book by Erasmus

The Rotterdam Library has acquired a rare parenting guide authored by Erasmus that was previously considered lost. This edition, a translation titled La civilité puerile, serves as an early manual on childhood etiquette and hygiene, including advice on behaviors like nail trimming and hand washing. Discovered by an American antiquarian, this copy is believed to be the only remaining specimen from an original printing of approximately one thousand books. Library curator John Tholen noted that the find provides a significant piece of evidence regarding the historical influence of Erasmus's ideas. Because such practical guides were frequently used rather than collected in the seventeenth century, few copies survived to the present day.

As part of the UNESCO-recognized Erasmus Collection, which is the largest of its kind globally, this book will be preserved for future generations. The library plans to showcase this artifact and other rare items during a public event on October 30 as part of the annual Erasmus Week, which celebrates the humanist's enduring legacy of peace and tolerance.