Kalendae Januariae, & Varia quaedam Poëmatia [Ensemble] De caecitate oratio [Ensemble] Praefatiuncula in disputationem de ridiculis, quae est apud Ciceronem in libro secundo de Oratore [Ensemble] Le premier livre des poemes

Rare gathering of four early editions of Jean Passerat, all printed by Robert Estienne, whose mark is recognizable on the title page.
Kalendae Januariae. 1603. Mamert Patisson. After the first edition of 1597.
De caecitate oratio. 1597. Mamert Patisson. First edition.
Praefatiuncula... 1595. Mamert Patisson. First edition.
Le premier livre... 1602. Edition with some parts in first edition augmented with 7 new poems after that of 1597 which contained only 17.
Full brown glazed calf binding 18th century. Raised spine richly decorated. Brown morocco title label. Joints skillfully restored. Gilt tooling on edges. Handsome copy.
Le Premier livre of poems is the last work published during the author's lifetime and revised by his hand, the latter having died in 1602, at the age of 68. Although he was a very enlightened humanist and profound scholar, friend to many poets (Muret, Ronsard, Baïf...), he is the author of light and particularly witty poetry, without affectation, nourished by Antiquity, where wordplay and rhymes embellish the poems. Professor of eloquence and literature, Passerat published very little during his lifetime, yet he was highly appreciated by his peers. The two editions on Cicero testify to the excellent orator he was. One should also note that he was one of the principal collaborators of the Satyre Menippee.
19th century engraved bookplate with the arms of the Cardinal Archbishop of Rouen, Croy (1823-1844)