Jean-Louis Guez de BALZAC

First edition. A handsome allegorical frontispiece by François Chauveau engraved by Regnesson, a title vignette by Picart and various very beautiful engraved ornaments: headpieces, tailpieces, initials...

Contemporary full speckled brown sheep binding. Richly decorated spine with raised bands. Brown morocco title label. Head of spine split. Foot with lack. Joint cracked at foot. Corners very bumped.
Works of Latin poetry by Guez de Balzac, the edition prepared by Gilles Ménage. In appendix a selection of letters.

Second edition, after the original of 1644; illustrated with a frontispiece portrait; a headpiece and handsome initial letter on the first page of text, as well as tailpieces. Good impression.
Copy with quartered arms on the 5 compartments, with baron's helmet and mantling. The charges are relatively illegible, though one can distinguish the cross of Lorraine.
Contemporary full speckled sheep binding. Raised band spine decorated with arms. Gilt title. Double fillet frame on boards. Two corners rubbed. Small lacks along joints. A brown stain in margin on several leaves p. 446. Some worming. Good wide-margined copy (except top margin).
The preface mentions the author's age...