C- de Villers la Faye (about 1510):

13018 HEURES A LUSAIGE DE PARIS, 8vo. printed on vellum, 100 leaves, with numerous large and small engravings, and engraved border (including a series of the Dance of Death) bound in old French mottled citron morocco, with elegant interlaced pattern on the sides and back, in a morocco case, £125.

(Simon Vostre, 1508) Originally in the possession of a noble Burgundian lady, C ) de Villers-la-Fay, whose portrait appears in a miniature painted on the first page of five additional MS. leaves of Prayer's added at the beginning. Her escutcheon (or, a fasce ondée, gueules) appears on the last of those leaves, and the monogram, CV, is painted on the first leaf of the Hore in the spot on which Simon Vostre's monogram was printed. The binding is of the Eve school, but seems to be one of the first works of Le Gascon. There are a few fanfare ornaments and just the least little appearance of the gold dots which he afterwards made his characteristic. The geometrical patterns on the sides and back are very beautiful. The roulette work inside the cover is of later style than the interlacements, and, if they stood alone, might be assigned to the year 1640, but, in connexion with the plain geometrical pattern on the outside, we cannot date it later than 1620. From the appearance of some of Le Gascon's tooling it may be conjectured that he worked for Clovis Eve, and that we have here a work executed by him a little before or immediately after his establishment as an independent binder. This edition of Vostre's Hore is undescribed.

O. d. F. and A. P. (about 1550):

13019 VIRGILII Opera; Servii Honorati in eadem commentarii ; castigationes per Ioannem Pierium Valerianum, stout folio, woodcut initials, fine copy in old calf, initials within ornamental gold centrepieces on the sides, 25s Parisiis, R. Stephanus, 1532

T. D. M. or M. D. T. (about 1550-60):

13020 VALERII MAXIMI FACTORVM: AC DICTORVM MEMORABILIVM liber [cum prefatione Boni Accursii], sm. folio, old brown morocco binding, the sides covered with gilt tooling in the French Grolier manner, having the title on the upper cover and initials T. D. M. in a monogram on the under cover, gilt and gauffred edges, £80. Venetiis impressit, 1478

The missing nominative to "impressit" in the colophon lurks somewhere in the four initials-P.F. B.R. S.F. Z.F.-which flank the two lines of imprint.

The binding is undoubtedly French, not Italian, although it has been suggested that the T. D. M. meant Maioli,—and was

done about 1560. The decorative design on the sides is large and grand ;-it consists of plain gold lines sweeping gracefully in bold intersecting curves, starting from, charged with, and ending in those ornaments à fers azurés which are remarkable in the Henri-Diane bindings. There seems little reason to doubt that the hand of one of the great artists who worked for the lady of Anet was employed here also.

Cardinal Granvelle (1517-86):

13021 LIBRI DE RE RUSTICA: M. Catonis, M. Terentii Varronis, L. Junii Moderati Columellæ, Palladii, large 8vo. in a sixteenth century red morocco binding, gilt edges, from the Sunderland library, £5. Venet. Aldus, 1533

With the arms of Cardinal Granvelle, and his motto, Durate, printed on the back of the title. This addition must have been made after the year 1560, in which he received the hat, and stamps this volume as having once formed part of his famous library in Besançon. Although he was not a Frenchman, except in the modern sense, his best place is in this section of the catalogue, On the upper cover, the title "Columell de Re Rustica" is impressed in gold.

C. T. (? Claude de Taillemont, flor. 1550-60):

13022 XENOPHONTIS Opera omnia in Latinam linguam conversa, 2 vols. 12mo, ruled with red lines, old calf gilt, gilt edges, from the Sunderland library, £2. 108 Lugd. S. Gryphius, 1551 Each side of the binding is doubly framed within gold lines, the outer border square, the inner lozenge-shaped, within which is a centrepiece and the initials C. T., which seem to be those of the Lyonnese poet, Claude de Taillemont,

Claude Hutet (about 1560-70): 13023 EUCLIDIS Optica & Catoptrica

Græce edita, eadem Latine

reddita per Ioannem Penam, sm. 4to. fine copy in the original calf binding, gilt edges, with gilt ornaments on the sides and back, and the name of Claude Hutet stamped in gold on the cover, £2. 16s Parisiis, 1557

A flower in each panel on the back, a fleuron, plein or, at each angle on the sides, and a Franco-Italian ornament, azuré, in the centre. The binding was done about 1560 in Paris.

Claude Bourgeois, Seigneur de Mouilleron (member of the Parlement de Bourgogne in 1561):

13024 HORÆ B. V. M. sm. 4to. illuminated MS. on 186 leaves of fine Vellum, in fine and perfect condition, written by a Flemish scribe, with eleven Miniatures by a Burgundian artist, innumerable initial letters in gold and colours, and nearly every page illuminated with delicately drawn scroll ornaments down the margin, in an ancient olive morocco binding, with a cipher composed of a triangle and three circles interlaced, £36. circa A.D. 1450

A favourable specimen of its kind, glowing perhaps too vividly with gold and bright colours, but exhibiting considerable skill in the drawing of figures and the disposition of draperies.

The binding was executed about 1580. The delta or triangle which appears here, in addition to the three interlaced annelets which Guigard gives as the emblem of Claude Bourgeois, may signify an alliance.

C.de G. (about 1580):

13025 HESIODI Ascræi Opera et Dies. Theogonia. Scvtvm Hercvlis, Grace, sm. 4to. in old smooth calf with a wreath of foliage in gold on sides, and a monogram composed of D. C. G. on the back, £3. 38 Venetiis, 1537

This seems to be Large Paper, and if so, puts an end to the claim of the Grenville copy to be the only one of that sort hitherto known. The volume was bound in 1585, or rather bears a memorandum of that date.

Mery de Vic, Garde des Sceaux (155*-1622):

13026 VIGNIER (Nicolas) Sommaire de l'histoire des Francois . . . avec un traicté de l'origine, estat, & demeure des François, folio, old calf, with Arms of VIC in gold on the sides, from the Sunderland library, £6. 108 Paris, Seb. Nivelle, 1579

There is a date on the fly-leaf, 25 August, 1584, which is no doubt the day on which Meri de Vic received this volume back from Clovis Eve. The back is full gilt with the mixed branchage and fanfare ornaments which distinguish the work of the Eves.

With the bookplate of Edward Radcliffe, Earl of Derwentwater, 1702.

H. D. and M. Gomeret (about 1580):

13027 LE NOVVEAV TESTAMENT

...

par

auec annotations reueuës M. Augustin Marlorat, Geneve, Pierre Perrin, 1577 - LES PSEAVMES de David, mis en rime Françoise par Clement Marot & Theodore de Beze, with the Music, Geneve, Abel Rivery, 1577-2 vols. in 1, stout 12mo. ruled with red ink throughout, very fine copy, in a fine ornamental Lyonese binding, gilt calf, a Grolieresque pattern impressed on the sides upon a rich azuré ground, the joints mended, the edges gilt and goffered with a geometrical design, with broad silver clasp, £15. 1577

This rare volume, which can scarcely have been bound out of Lyons. must have been carefully treasured in secret by its Huguenot owner, its present condition being so remarkably fresh and fine. HD on the front side, and M. Gomeret on the back, may be read in various ways, and as one name or as two. The Calvinist Form of Prayer and Catechism and a Calendrier historial follow the Psalms.

Aymar Du Périer (about 1591):

13028 (AUGUSTINI) Dialogos de Medallas, Inscriciones, y otras antiguedades, sm. 4to. numerous plates of Coins and Medals, in the original olive-green morocco, without bands, with the Du Périer arms and coronet on the sides, £12. 12s Tarragona, 1587 Original and excessively rare edition of a book that is found in few Spanish libraries, most collectors having been obliged to content themselves with the reprint made last century.

The arms of Aymar Du Périer, "Conseiller au Parlement de Grenoble vers 1591," are the same as given by Guigard, except that on the book there is a coronet surmounting the crest.

Jacques Augustin de Thou (1553-1617):

13029 Before Marriage. JOANNIS CHRYSOSTOMI Conciuncula sex, Græce, Basilea, 1526-Ejusdem Homilia quod nemo læditur nisi a seipso, Græce, Paris, 1541-Nectarii et Joannis Chrysostomi Orationes, Gr. et Lat. ib. 1554-Gregorii Nysseni Orationes duæ, Gr. et Lat. Lips. 1564-4 vols. in 1, 12mo. fine copies in blue morocco extra, gilt edges, with the first arms and

JACQUES AUGUSTIN DE THOU―continued.

monogram of Thuanus in gold on sides and back, from the Beckford library, £18. 18s 1526-64

This was probably one of the first volumes bound for De Thou, who began his collection with the books left by his uncle Adrien in 1570, and increased it with those of his father in 1582.

13030 HEGESIPPI DE BELLO JUDAICO

libri quinq annotationes . per Cornelium Gualtherum, 12mo. fine copy in red morocco extra, gilt edges and back, with the first arms and cipher of De Thou, from the Beckford library, £16. 16s

Coloniæ, 1575 A finely preserved volume, which belonged to Renouard in 1789, as appears from his autograph inscription, and from his name impressed at the bottom of the cover.

13031 GEMMA (Corn.) de Naturæ divinis characterismis, sm. 8vo. (12mo.) vellum gilt, gilt edges, the fore-edge of the vellum cover on one side slightly damaged, with the first arms of De Thou on the sides, and his monogram on the back, in gold, £4. 48

Antverp. Plantin. 1575 13032 GROTO (L.) Comedie: il Thesoro, la Emilia, il Pentimento amoroso, la Calista e la Hadriana, 5 vols. in 1, 12mo. fine copy in vellum, gilt edges, with earliest arms of Thuanus on sides, and Monogram on back, stamped in gold, from the Beckford library, £12. Venetia, 1583 13033 MENGI (H.) FLAGELLUM DEMONUM; Fustis Dæmonum; 2 vols. Bononiæ, 1584-Scribonius (G. A.) de examine et purgatione Sagarum per aquam frigidam, Lemgovic, 1583-3 vols. in 1, sm. 8vo. citron morocco, with first arms and monogram of Thuanus in gold on sides and back, £10. 10s 1583.84 13034 INSTITUTIONES JURIS CIVILIS Græce per Theophilum Antecessorem, folio, LARGE PAPER, fine copy in old French red morocco extra, with the first arms and monogram of De Thou, £15. 15s Basilea, 1534

13035 GESNERI (Conradi) Epistolarum Medicinalium libri iii sm. 4to. (8vo.) in old French citron morocco extra, with the first arms and monogram of De Thou, £5. 5s Tiguri, 1577 13036 MASSONUS (Papirius) de Episcopis Urbis qui Romanam Ecclesiam rexerunt, 4to. FINE PAPER, red morocco extra, gilt edges, with first Arms and Monogram of Thuanus in gold on sides and back, £6. 68

Paris, 1586

A very fine example; from the Beckford Library. 13037 First Marriage. ROO (Gerardi de) Annales rerum belli domique ab Austriacis Habspurgica gentis principibus a Rudolpho primo usqz ad Carolum V gestarum, sm. folio, coats of Arms illuminated, and portrait of the Archduke Ferdinand on the back title coloured; beautiful copy in old French crimson morocco, with the second arms and cypher of De Thou, after his marriage in 1587, £15. 15s Oeniponti, 1592 In remarkably fine and fresh condition. The cipher is made up of I A (Jacques Augustin) and M (for Marie Barbançon his first wife).

JACQUES AUGUSTIN DE THOU—continued. 13038 LA NOUE (Seigneur de la) Discours politiques et militaires, sm. folio, very fine and large copy in the original calf binding, with the arms and cypher of De Thou and his first wife, £3. 16s

Basle, 1587 13039 Second Marriage. CARIONIS Chronicon expositum et auctum a Philippo Melanthone & Casparo Peucero, 2 vols. sm. 8vo. painted citron morocco, level backs and gilt edges, with arms and monogram of Thuanus and Gasparde de La Chastre in gold on sides and back, from the Beckford library, £28. Geneva, 1576 Bound after De Thou's second marriage in 1602. It is a very fine example of his library, and of the art of his binder.

13040 HEINSII (D.) ORATIONES, THICK PAPER, presentation copy to Thuanus, with author's autograph inscription (partly erased), red morocco, gilt edges, with Arms and Monogram of Thuanus aud Gasparde de La Chastre in gold on sides and back, from the Beckford library, £84. Lugd. Bat. L. Elzevir, 1615

The MS. inscription on the title-page, partly rubbed away, is "Illustri et vere maximo viro claris. Augusto Thuano d. m. autor." No Elzevir collection could contain a greater treasure than this from a bibliophile's point of view. It is a famous author's presentation copy to the most famous of all bibliophiles, on special paper, with the autograph inscription of the donor, and the lovely binding of De Thou as its robe of honour. 13041 ROBLES (Eugenio de) Compendio de la Vida y hazañas del Cardenal don fray Francisco Ximenez de Cisneros: y del Oficio y Missa Muzarabe, small 4to. fine copperplate portrait of the Cardinal, by Petrus Angelus, old French calf gilt, slightly mended at top and bottom, with the arms on sides, and monogram on back, of De Thou and his second wife, £5. (Toledo) 1604 13042 De Thou's Sons. KIRCHERI Prodromus Coptus sive Ægyptiacus, sm. 4to. fine copy in gilt veau fauve, with the arms and monogram of De Thou and his second wife, £3. 3s Romæ, 1636

The great bibliophile died in 1617; but his library was kept together and still augmented successively by his eldest son Francois-Auguste de Thou (beheaded in 1642) and his third son Jacques Auguste-until the entire collection was bought by Charron de Menars in 1680. An urn above the escutcheon is the only point in which Francois-Auguste differentiated his additions from the last acquisitions of his father.

13043 HOFMANNI (Carp.) Institutiones Medica, Lugd. 1645COLMENERO DE LEDESMA, du Chocolate, discours curieux traduit d'Espagnol par René Moreau, Paris, 1643-2 vols. in 1, thick sm. 4to. calf gilt, with the De Thou arms and monogram on sides and back, £5. 5s

1643-45

This was bound about 1645-6 for Jacques Auguste II, who had succeeded to the ownership of the library after his brother's execution in 1642, but the escutcheon is still identical with that used by his father and his brother. It was towards 1650 that he began to quarter the arms of his wife.