Guillaume de Luyne

Second edition published a few months after the first edition, this second edition has the merit of containing tributes by Saint Aignan, Scudery, Bertault, Ménard.
Contemporary binding in full porphyry calf. Spine with four raised bands decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons, as well as a red morocco title-label. Double gilt fillet framing the covers. All edges marbled.
Adam Billaut (1602-1662) was one of the first working-class poets; Les chevilles by Master Adam appeared in 1644 and had great critical success. Billaut became the protégé of the Prince de Condé, was pensioned by Richelieu and admired by his peers. If his poetry shines little through elegance, in a century that was full of it, his language is full of verve and originality and his collections make him one of the very first poets of the 17th century, one of those whose language is always appreciated, devoid of affectation and unnecessary ornaments.

A counterfeit of the first edition published the same year in Holland.
Full sheep binding with raised spine, spine in four compartments decorated with double panels and gilt fleurons, brown calf title-label, date at foot, elegant pastiche binding signed Desnaux. Engraved headpieces, initials and tailpieces.
One manuscript endpaper concerning the work at rear.

The first three volumes of this collected edition appeared for the first time in 1662, volume IV, published in 1673, contains only pieces in first edition, namely: Laodice, Le baron d'Albikrack, La mort d'Annibal, La comtesse d'orgueil, Ariane, Teodate. The fifth volume contains in first edition La mort d'Achille, Circé, L'inconnu, Le comte d'Essex. The first three volumes each have a frontispiece title and continuous pagination, the other two volumes have separate pagination, with specific title pages for each piece. Each volume bears on its title page, part I, through V.
Contemporary full calf bindings, very ornate raised-band spines. Uniform binding on all 5 volumes. Upper headcap of volume 3 worn, and part of the headcap of volume 3 missing, lower headcap of volume 4 worn. Tear with loss to joint of volume 5. Despite the noted defects, the set constitutes a handsome series.
« Thomas Corneille left forty-two dramatic works and achieved great success in the theater: the most famous, Ariane, le Comte d'Essex, tragedies, le Festin de Pierre, versified comedy by Molière. Palissot later reproached him for his "romantic intrigues," and La Harpe for "flabby and incorrect versification," Boileau said of him that he was "merely a cadet from Normandy." Voltaire said that, with the exception of Racine, "he was the only one of his time who was worthy of being first below his brother." Voltaire said elsewhere that he was a "man who would have a great reputation if he had not had a brother." Thomas Corneille, a good grammarian, worked on the Dictionary, made a Dictionary of terms of arts and sciences in two volumes, a universal geographical and historical Dictionary in three volumes, in 1687, he published with his own notes a new edition of Vaugelas's Remarks, he also made translations. He belonged to the party of the moderns, fought La Bruyère, received Fontenelle, took an important part in the Furetière affair. He was a member of the Academy of Inscriptions. He died blind, on December 8, 1709. » Biography of the French Academy.

First edition.
Late 19thC English red morocco by Riviere and Son, Jansenist spine in six compartments, double gilt fillet to head- and tail-pieces and edges of covers, large gilt dentelle frame to pastedowns, all edges gilt.
Modern ex libris to upper pastedown. Final endpaper slightly sunned.
The piece was written for the Théâtre du Marais in Paris on the 25 February 1662 and published in July of the same year.
A fine copy in an elegant signed morocco binding.

Collected edition of the first seven books, which appeared between 1648 and 1653, first edition of the eighth book. As almost always, this copy has only the seven books. It has an unsigned frontispiece etching.
19th century red morocco by Trautz-Bauzonnet, spine richly gilt in six compartments. Triple gilt fillet frame to covers. Large gilt dentelle frame to pastedowns. All edges gilt.
A superb copy in a handsome binding.