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 bands richly decorated. Red morocco title label. Interior fillet. Head and tail caps and joints very finely restored. On title page and on the portrait, arms scraped certainly during the Revolution. Light foxing. Very handsome copy.
The work appeared only a few days after Marsolier's Histoire de Ximenez and the comparison sparked a controversy lasting until the 19th century. While Fléchier's work tends to illustrate the Cardinal's saintliness, Marsolier's, more critical, addresses "libertines, that party of philosophers who were beginning to raise their heads". Religious reformer and politician, Ximénès (Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros) was appointed Grand Inquisitor of Spain and governor of Castile; he showed much temperance in his administration of the inquisition and his policy towards the Moors. Originally a Franciscan monk, not forgetting his origins, he aimed for a profound reform of the clergy towards greater morality. He died in 1517, after distinguishing himself on all fronts, education, politics... He is one of the major figures in the history of Spain at the end of the 15th century.
Ex libris Jacques Vieillard. Bookseller's label Moquet, in Bordeaux.

NB: This work is available at the bookshop on request within 48 hours.

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 were beginning to raise their heads". Religious reformer and politician, Ximénès (Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros) was appointed Grand Inquisitor of Spain and governor of Castile; he showed much temperance in his administration of the inquisition and his policy towards the Moors. Originally a Franciscan monk, not forgetting his origins, he strove for a profound reform of the clergy towards greater morality. He died in 1517, after having distinguished himself on all fronts, education, politics... He is one of the major figures in the history of Spain of this end of the 15th century.

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.