Les vies des hommes illustres & grands capitaines français de son temps

First edition. Title pages with the printer's sphere device.

Contemporary full brown calf bindings. Spines with raised bands, gilt decoration, and brown calf lettering and volume labels. Minor split at the top of the upper joint on volume 3. Loss to the foot of volume 1. Rubbing to the bindings. In the first volume, pale waterstain to the opening leaves, reappearing sporadically at the foot or outer margins throughout.

These celebrated Lives of Illustrious French Men include the biographies of Charles VIII, Louis XII, the Marshal of Guise, Francis I, Charles IX, the Prince of Condé, Henry II, etc. Brantôme would also go on to write the Lives of Illustrious Foreign Men, Illustrious Ladies, and Gallant Ladies. The complete set was eventually published in nine small volumes divided into four series by Jean Sambix.