SAINTE-MARTHE (Scévole de). The Works. Paris, Mamert Patisso - Lot 46

SAINTE-MARTHE (Scévole de). The Works. Paris, Mamert Patisson, Printer to the King, at the residence of Robert Estienne, 1579. 17th-century binding in speckled calfskin, three gilt fillets on the covers, ribbed spine decorated with scroll-shaped metal fittings, red edges. Second edition of the Works of Scévole de Sainte-Marthe, partly original, expanded by nearly 80 pieces compared to the first edition, published ten years earlier, and otherwise entirely revised. Compared to the 1569 edition, the text contains numerous variations, and, according to Picot (Rothschild Cat.), “one would scarcely find twenty consecutive lines in which changes had not been introduced.” The volume is divided into five parts: Poems; Le Palingène; Love and Epigrams; Miscellaneous Sonnets; Christian Metamorphoses. Page 94 (marked a2) contains on the front a sonnet by Rémi Belleau:To Mr. Palingène on the Translation of Scevole by Sainte-Marthe, and on the verso seven Latin couplets by Sainte-Marthe—content that is absolutely identical to that of the preliminary leaf a4—was replaced, likely during the printing process, when the publisher realized there was a duplicate, with a blank leaf and is thus missing from nearly all known copies (according to the Barbier-Mueller Library auction catalog, Part 2, October 7, 2022, No. 132; it is said to exist only in the copy held by the Poitiers Library). This extremely rare original leaf is indeed present in our copy, into which it appears to have been inserted at the time of binding to replace the blank leaf. Slightly shorter along half of the lower margin, it has a few foxing spots and a skillfully restored tear in the center, with no loss of material. Beautiful italic typeface, enriched with headpieces and initials featuring floral decoration. Robert Estienne’s mark on the title page (Silvestre 508). An exceptional first-state copy in a charming antique binding. Wear and restorations to the binding. Ex-libris of the Sunderland Library, Portland, Bernard Quaritch, March 1888. Acquired by Émile Rossignol in 1959. Tchemerzine, V, p. 668; Picot, Rothschild, 716; Barbier-Mueller, *Ma bibliothèque poétique*, IV-5, 69.

Estimate:£2,556.7

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