Ambassades et negociations de l'illustrissime et révérendissime Cardinal Du Perron

First edition, extremely rare. One most often finds, even in libraries, the second and third editions of 1623 and 1629, and especially that of 1633. As an example, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France possesses 13 copies of the Ambassades, 5 from 1623, 2 from 1629, and 6 from 1633, but none of this 1620 edition. 2 blank leaves before the title. We have found no trace of this edition in online library catalogues, neither at the British Library, nor in English or French catalogues, Russian, etc. Printer's device on title page, Lion and fleur de lys. The 1623 edition would add a portrait and the epistle to Pierre Brulard, at the address of Antoine Estienne, or Guillaume Loyson, the 2 blank leaves before the title would suggest that the edition was hastily issued, pending these pieces.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands richly decorated. Red morocco title label. Double fillet border on boards. Joints cracked at head, and at foot for the upper joint. A slash with loss to lower board. A brown stain on the same board. Rubbing. Some leaves more browned or yellowed and a loss of paper to one corner of a leaf, in margin. Very pale scattered foxing. Good copy.
Born into a Calvinist family, baroque poet and diplomat, Du Perron's career only took off after his conversion, at the age of 21 (he would moreover become a famous controversialist at the expense of the Protestants). He became close to Henri IV, and actively dealt with his conversion, then obtained the king's absolution in Rome, and the lifting of the interdict against France. He returned to Rome as France's chargé d'affaires, and had Alexandre de Medici, relative of the queen, elected, then Paul V, of the Borghese family. Finally, he took an active part in the États généraux of 1614. The Ambassades are a collection of letters gathered and preceded by summaries and notices by his secretary César de Ligny, and retraces the political life of the author.
Armorial bookplate of the Marquis de Rosambo, Louis Le Peletier (1747-1794).