Les Armoiries des connetables
The personal copy of Deschamps de Porville, the illuminator of this remarkable volume printed on large Dutch paper adorned with 483 large coats of arms illuminated at the time, bearing this handwritten inscription: "All the coats of arms in this book have been colored by Philippe Deschamps Esquire Sir of Porville, residing in Iseghem, refugee due to the capture of Bassée by the French, and the destruction of his home in Porville; this book was completed on the last day of August 1642. Signed Deschamp de Porville.
Contemporary vellum, decorated on the large blank with the illuminated arms of Deschamps de Porville in the year 1636.
6 sections with separate title in 1 folio volume.
Part I: The Constables of France; 61 pages and 91 large coats of arms painted at the time.
Part II: The Grand Masters of France; 58 pages and 81 large coats of arms painted at the time.
Part III: The Chancellors of France; 49 pages, 74 large coats of arms painted at the time.
Part IV: The Admirals of France; 28 pages, 42 large coats of arms painted.
Part V: The Provosts of Paris; 37 pages, 65 large coats of arms painted.
Part VI: The illustrious Marshals of France; 75 pages, 130 large coats of arms painted.
Ivory vellum, raised bands, mottled edges. Period binding.
332 x 210 mm.
Le Féron, Jean (1504-1570). The coats of arms of the constables, grand masters, chancellors, admirals, Marshals of France up to King Louis XIII with their names… Work first composed and published by Jean Le Feron, enlarged in this last edition by Cl. Morel, Paris, Cl. Morel, 1628.
Partly original edition.
Unique copy printed on very large Dutch paper of which the 483 large coats of arms were “coloured by Philippe Deschamps, Squire Sir de Porville d’Heronual in Iseghem, refugee due to the capture of La Bassée by the French and the destruction of his home of Porville; this book was completed on the last day of August 1642. Signed Deschamps de Porville”.
Jean Le Féron (1504-1570) was a lawyer in the parliament of Paris, and in his own family and those of his many allies, he could gather a multitude of curious facts, intimate details, a living commentary on history. Etienne Pasquier, who knew him, called him Me Le Féron, “great researcher of coats of arms.”
“He devoted himself more, says Loysel, to writing genealogies and coats of arms than to his profession as a lawyer.”
This book, the best of those he wrote, has become “the foundation of the Genealogical History of the House of France and of the great officers of the crown.”
Denis Godefroy, (1615-1681) historiographer to the King of France, specialized in the genealogical research of the house of France.
Precious volume corrected and illuminated by Sir Deschamp de Porville.
