BUDE (Guillaume). *The Book on the Institution of the Prince - Lot 38

BUDE (Guillaume). *The Book on the Institution of the Prince*, dedicated to the Most Christian King of France, Francis I, written and compiled by Mr. Guillaume Budé, his secretary and head of his library. Paris, Jehan Foucher, 1547. In-8, contemporary binding in fawn calfskin, with elegant interlaced decoration on the covers enhanced with green and white wax, fleurons, and azure-stamped metalwork; spine adorned lengthwise with a gilt decoration consisting of the same repeated motif; gilt edges. Second edition, featuring a fully revised and corrected text, more accurate than that of the first edition published the same year. This collection of philosophical precepts was composed in 1516 by the great humanist Guillaume Budé (1467–1540) for the edification of the young King Francis I, who had just ascended the throne. The Arsenal Library now preserves the richly illuminated dedication manuscript. Unpublished, the work was not distributed until 1547, first by the Troyes printer Nicolas Paris, by virtue of a privilege granted by Henry II dated September 13, 1547 (reproduced here on the reverse side of the title page), then by the Parisian Jehan Foucher in this version revised by the scholar Richard Le Blanc, who, among other things, translated Hesiod into French and served as maître d’hôtel to the Duke of Guise, to whom this edition is dedicated. A very elegant binding with an interlaced decoration enhanced with wax, well preserved despite a few skillful restorations. A contemporary inscription in ink, redacted on the title page, and, in the same hand (?), the date 1547 underlined, with the words “1592 Datum” added below. Tears at the upper spine. Slight water stain, not particularly bothersome, at the corner of about fifty leaves. The last leaf is shorter, having been reattached and re-margined at the top and bottom. Paul Gaudin’s ex-libris bearing the motto “Res severa verum gaudium.” Acquired by Émile Rossignol in 1952. Bechtel (B-88); Brunet (I, col. 788–789).

Schätzpreis:€3,000

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