La Defense et illustration de la langue francoise
Superb collection containing 10 works by Du Bellay, including unpublished pieces.
A magnificent copy bound in mosaic morocco in the style of Renaissance bindings.
10 works gathered in 1 quarto volume. Havana morocco, wide mosaic and gilt border on covers, raised bands on spine decorated similarly, double gilt fillet on edges, gilt inner dentelle, gilt edges over marbling. Binding by Chambolle-Duru.
224 x 150 mm.
Du Bellay, Joachim. The Defense and Illustration of the French Language, with The Olive newly augmented. The Musagnoeomachia. The Anterotic of the Old & the Young Beloved. Lyric Verses, &c.
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, 38 ff., (2) ff.
First quarto edition.
The Olive and other poetic works.
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, (76) ff.
First collected edition.
Two Books of Virgil’s Aeneid, the fourth and sixth translated into French by J. Du Bellay.
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, 64 ff.
Partly original edition. “This collection contains an unpublished sonnet not mentioned by Chamard in his bibliography (3, no. 49)” (J. P. Barbier).
The Monomachy of David and Goliath. Together with several other poetic works.
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, 50 ff.
Collection of poems presented to the most illustrious Princess Madame Marguerite, only sister of the King…
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, 38 ff., (2) ff.
Partly original edition. “ This collection contains 9 unpublished pieces ” (J. P. Barbier).
Speech to the King on the Truce of year 1555. Hymn to the King on the Taking of Calais. The Furies against Breakers of Faith.
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, (16) ff.
Second original edition of the Speech and the Hymn, previously published separately in pamphlet form in 158.
It contains an unpublished piece, The Furies against the Breakers of Faith, which anticipates Du Bellay’s political speeches.
Epithalamium on the marriage of the most illustrious prince Philibert Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy, and the most illustrious princess Marguerite of France, only sister of the King and Duchess of Berry.
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, (24) ff.
Edition augmented with several pieces.
Tumulus Henrici Secundi, King of the French…
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, (12) ff.
Edition “augmented with the Tomb of Minard, one of Du Bellay’s finest pieces ” (Tchemerzine, III, 68).
Ode on the birth of the young Duke of Beaumont, son of My Lord of Vendôme.
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, (14) ff.
Original edition of the utmost rarity.
Elegy on the death of the late Joachim Du Bellay.
Paris, F. Morel, 1561.
Quarto, (6) ff.
Du Bellay (1522-1560) met Ronsard in 1547. From that day began his poetic vocation.
Fourth edition—the original dates from 1549—but the first quarto edition and first edition of this text augmented with the Musagnoeomachia, to which must be added Du Bellay’s other texts described by Tchemerzine under separate numbers.
As G. Lanson noted, “Du Bellay preceded Ronsard.” He composed a prolific and diverse poetic œuvre, constantly innovative; he was the author of the first collection of French love sonnets, the first collection of lyric odes; he decisively expanded the scope of the sonnet, became one of the best neo-Latin poets in Europe, and then transformed into a foremost political poet. He was not merely Ronsard’s brilliant second: he was one of the greatest French poets, one of the most innovative.” (Dictionnaire des Lettres françaises, p. 388).
Superb and precious copy of this collection of separate works by Joachim Du Bellay published by Frédéric Morel in quarto format.
This collection presents important works by the author who had just died and contains pieces of extreme rarity; some are in original edition, others in first quarto edition.
A great poetic work sumptuously bound in mosaic morocco by Chambolle-Duru in the style of Renaissance bindings.
Tchemerzine, III, 40 to 73 ; La défense et illustration de la langue française, L. Séché, p.232 ; Adams D982, D984, D987, D990, D991, D994, D996, A2117 ; 91.
