LES MEMOIRES DE MESSIRE PHILIPPE DE COMMINES, SR. D'ARGENTON

Book Description

A Leide: Chez les Elzeviers, 1648.. One volume bound in two. [24],370; 371-765,[19]pp. Engraved title. 12mo. 13.5 x 7.5cm. Very handsomely bound in full early 19th century dark brown straight grain morocco (unsigned), spines and panels elaborately decorated in blind, marbled endsheets, a.e.g. Auchincruive bookplate (with shelf numbers) in first volume. Very slight rubbing to a few extremities, slight tanning, otherwise a very pretty set. First Elzevir edition of the celebrated memoirs of the foremost French Renaissance historian (1445- 1509), notable as an important analysis of 15th century culture, politics and personality. "...The graphic style of his narrative and above all the keenness of his insight into the motives of his contemporaries, an insight undimmed by undue regard for principles of right and wrong, make this work one of the great classics of history" - ENCYC. BRITANNICA. "...Authoritative [and] rare...printed in Paris probably by Le Gras" - Rostenberg & Stern, THE HOUSE OF ELZEVIR, 27 (referencing this edition in their offering of the 1661 edition). "Jolie édition, dont les exemplaires grands de marge et bien conservés sont fort recherchés" - Brunet. RAHIR 630. BRUNET II:191. WILLEMS 634.

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