First Editions

First edition.
Nice copy.

Comme devant une place / Pleine de gens et de bruit / Je reste figé sur place / Arrêté devant ma vie

First edition of the French translation of Livy's Roman History by Pierre Du Ryer, historian, member of the French Academy and great translator for the Parisian booksellers of the period. This translation is accompanied by the supplements of Jean Freinsheim, philologist and historiographer to Queen Christina of Sweden, to whom Du Ryer dedicates the work. The edition also includes Florus's complete Summaries at the head of each book. Arms of Louis XIII engraved on the title page, text enhanced with engraved headpieces, initials and tailpieces.

Full calf binding, spine with 6 raised bands, later 18th-century red morocco title-label decorated with an eagle, arms of the Sade family of the Mazan branch, spine with author, title and volume number gilt, raised bands decorated with gilt fillet and compartments decorated with grotesques surrounded by double gilt fillet, gilt fillet on the leading edges. Boards reinforced at the joints with reused parchment visible under the white paper endpapers, probably a notarial deed. Handsome copy representative of the work of Parisian binders of the mid-17th century, found in the great collections of the period.

Fine condition, small dampstains in upper margin not touching the text, small hole with loss of a few letters on p.223, some rare scattered worming and browned leaves, slight bookworm damage.

Rare provenance from the library of the Sade family, of the Mazan branch, inherited by Donatien Alphonse de Sade, the Divine Marquis. The book would have been acquired by Abbé Jacques François Paul Alfonce de Sade, scholar and libertine, probably kept at the château de Saumane during the abbé's lifetime and at his death was transferred to the Sade family collection at the château de Condé after 1814. It has not left the Sade collection since. (Sources: Thibault de Sade, direct descendant of the Marquis)
Manuscript note from the beginning of the second half of the 17th century on the upper pastedowns of each volume. Characteristic indication of public sales of great Parisian libraries in the 17th century with the price in livres tournois and the name of the dealer. On the first volume "20 lt Nicolas [...]", the name is covered in ink with the addition below in a later date by another hand "1658", probably an acquisition date, and on the second volume "30 lt Nicolas [...]" with the addition of the date as on the first volume.

Prestigious provenance.

First edition on ordinary paper.
Work decorated with a frontispiece illustration by Joan Miro.

Very precious autograph inscription signed by Janine Queneau to her great friend Boris Vian: "A Boris dont je crains d'avoir bien mal suivi les conseils. Avec beaucoup d'affection. Janine." ["To Boris, whose advice I fear I have followed very poorly. With much affection. Janine."]

Provenance: Boris Vian Foundation.
 

New edition, with some parts in first edition as expanded with a preface, one of 30 numbered copies on Holland paper, deluxe copies after 6 on Japan paper.

Full chocolate brown morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, gilt roulettes on headcaps, quadruple black fillets framing the boards, black fleurons at corners, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, triple gilt fillets framing the pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, double gilt fillets on leading edges, top edge gilt on deckled edges, contemporary binding signed by Stroobants.

Bookplate pasted at head of one pastedown.

Very fine copy perfectly executed by Stroobants.