Esprit FLÉCHIER

First edition, rare, adorned with a portrait frontispiece by Delinck and illustrated with 6 title head-pieces and 6 tail-pieces by Sébastien Le Clerc. Printer's device on title page, with the fleur-de-lys of Florence.
Armorial copy of Charles Henri Comte de Hoym, Imperial Count and Ambassador of Saxony and representative of Poland in France. He was a celebrated bibliophile and acquired numerous copies during his long stay in France. The Techener bookshop (Librairie de la société des bibliophiles) published a life of the Count in 1880. The sale of his library took place in 1738 in 58 sessions at the hôtel de Longueville.
Full blonde calf binding early 18th century. Spine with raised...

Illustrated edition with a triple-state portrait of the author as frontispiece, as well as numerous portraits outside the text.
Half dark green morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands decorated with fillets and double gilt compartments, top edge gilt retaining its deckled edges. Binding signed Niedrée.
Scattered worming, otherwise a handsome copy.

First edition, rare, decorated with a frontispiece portrait by Delinck and illustrated with 6 title headpieces and 6 tailpieces by Sébastien Le Clerc. Printer's device on title page, with the fleur-de-lys of Florence.
Contemporary brown sheep binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label. Head and tail caps and joints restored at head and foot. Corners worn.
The work appeared barely a few days after the Histoire de Ximenez by Marsolier and whose comparison sparked controversy until the 19th century. While Fléchier's work tends to illustrate the Cardinal's saintliness, that of Marsolier, more critical, addresses "libertines, to that party of philosophers who...

New edition. Half morocco with corners in hazelnut, spine in five compartments with two scratch marks, top edge gilt, corners slightly bumped. Handsome copy lacking two plates.