# Rotterdam library shows 1609 Erasmus manners book during Erasmus Week

> Bibliotheek Rotterdam will display a 1609 French adaptation of Erasmus' guide to good manners for children during the coming Erasmus Week.

Society · published 2026-10-21 21:28 · https://nlnow.nl/a/rotterdam-library-shows-erasmus-children-s-manners-book-thought-lost/

Bibliotheek Rotterdam will show a booklet long thought lost, *La civilité puerile*, during the coming Erasmus Week. It is a French adaptation of the philosopher Erasmus' handbook on good manners for children.

The booklet dates from 1609. It is now part of the Rotterdam UNESCO Erasmus collection.

Library curator John Tholen said: "Many more books have existed than survive today, as we know from auction catalogues, among other things, which list titles that can no longer be found anywhere." He added: "Such books are known internationally as 'lost books'."

## Background

- **Rotterdam UNESCO Erasmus collection**: The Rotterdam UNESCO Erasmus collection is a set of books, manuscripts and documents by or about the humanist Desiderius Erasmus, who was born in Rotterdam, held by the Rotterdam public library. It is recognised on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, which lists documentary heritage considered important to humanity. It matters here because it is the city's main archive of Erasmus-related material, and items from it are regularly studied and displayed.

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