Olivier de Varennes

First edition, illustrated with a large title vignette with the coat of arms of Louis XIII, as well as numerous fine woodcut head-and tailpieces as well as initials. Preceded by an epistle to Marie de’ Medici. Printed entirely in italic in 2 columns per page, each canto has divisional half-title page. At the end of the privilege one reads: “Achevé d’imprimer pour la première fois en italien le 24 avril 1623.” 

 

Modern full vellum binding, spine with five raised bands, manuscript title label, boards w

The rare first edition.
Contemporary white vellum binding. Smooth spine. Some surface wear and staining.
Binding partially detached. Some dampstaining and numerous fold marks.
Jacques du Four de la Crespelière (1625-1680), burlesque and licentious poet displaying in his light verses the last fires of the Baroque, the author belongs to this specifically French 17th-century genre of which Scarron is one of the most illustrious representatives. This is poetry that goes against the grain, through mockery, of mannered and emphatic baroque poetry. His collection of Divertissemens d'amour, as well as his collection of translations of Greek poets (Sappho, Anacreon, Theocritus...), and