Le Bon Mesnager

In-folio of (8) ff., 185 ff., (1) f., Gothic type, 2 columns. At the beginning of the prologue is a woodcut showing the printer presenting his book to Francis I, signed with Geoffroy Tory's Cross of Lorraine.
Red Jansenist morocco, spine with raised bands, double gilt fillet on the edges, wide gilt inner roll, gilt edges. Binding signed by Thierry, successor to Petit-Simier.

265 x 190 mm.

Crescens, Pierre de (born in Bologna in 1230). Le Bon Mesnager. In the present volume of country and rural profits, the subject is the cultivation of fields, vineyards, gardens, and all kinds of trees.
With privilege. Sold in Paris at the first pillar of the Great Hall of the Palace, in the shop of Galliot du Pré, sworn bookseller of the University. [At the end:] The present book was completed and printed in Paris by Nicolas Cousteau, printer residing at the said place, on the 15th day of January, year one thousand five hundred thirty-three. [1533], in-fol., Gothic type, 2 columns.

First edition under this title; “the first edition” (Schwerdt, I, p. 127).
Brunet II, 417; Schwerdt I, p. 127; Souhart 121; Thibaud p. 229; Petit 639.

“The earliest edition in the Bibl Nat. is dated 1536. No copy in British Museum”.

One of the two copies cited by Thiebaud, p. 229, who writes:
“First edition under the title ‘Le Bon Mesnager’, partly original as it includes additional botanical texts by Gorgole de Corne”.

It is adorned with beautiful and very numerous initials and two beautiful wood engravings.

“A major book, the work of Pierre de Crescens is the prototype of all country houses. It is the first printed work to include an entire book dedicated to hunting”.

“The first French edition, made from the manuscript of King Charles V, is entitled: Prouffits champestres et ruraulx, touchant le labour des champs, vignes et jardins, etc., composed in Latin by Pierre Crescens, then translated into French at the request of Charles V, King of France, in 1373, Paris, 1486, by Jean Bonhomme, in-folio. Ant. Vérard made a second edition in Paris in the same year, both are rare; a third appeared in the same city from Galliot du Pré, 1533, in-folio” (Biographie universelle, 9, col. 472).

These three editions are extremely rare.

“It was at the invitation of Charles II, King of Sicily, who died in 1309, that Pierre de Crescens, born in Bologna in 1230, composed his Treatise on Rural Economy, in which he combined a luminous theory with the certain results of long experience, free from many prejudices that were still favored more than three hundred years later. The author is far ahead of his time. He cites the ancient Latin agricultural writers—Cato, Varro, Palladius, even Columella—although it has been positively asserted that this author was only rediscovered later; but he does not merely copy them. All the scholars of the University of Bologna, as well as several clerics, shared their knowledge with him; Crescenzi, in his preface, thanks them for having approved and corrected his book, and urges them to improve it further. This work, produced with such care, examined and reviewed by several scholars, is a remarkable monument in the history of agriculture and of the human mind. It was composed in Latin, under the title: Opus ruralium commodorum, libri duodecim. As soon as it appeared, it caused a great sensation, and soon spread throughout Europe. It was translated into Italian and then into several other modern languages. Charles V, King of France, had it translated into French in 1373, along with other books on rural economy. The manuscript of this translation made for this prince still exists; it is adorned with three vignettes and is very well preserved. Its title is: Rustican du labour des champs, translated from Latin by Pierre de Crescens into French, by order of Charles V, king of France in 1373. The translator is not named. At the discovery of printing, this book was one of the first to be printed.” (Michaud).

“This volume also deals with hunting, fishing, and gastronomy. Starting with 1533, it was enlarged with botanical texts and published under the name Bon Mesnager. The fourth book is devoted to viticulture and wine. Often accompanied by very beautiful woodcuts” (Bechtel, 196).

Superb Schwerdt copy, one of the two cited by Thiébaud along with the Pichon copy sold for €16,769 nineteen years ago, in May 2000.