1512 · Paris
by MONSTRELET, Enguerrand de
Paris: Jean Petit and Michel le Noir, 1512. Full Description:
[MONSTRELET, Enguerrand de]. Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet. Paris: [Jean Petit and Michel le Noir, 4 December 1512].
First Michal le Noir edition of Monstrelet's important chronicles. Complete as three volumes in one. Thick folio in sixes (10 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches; 260 x 183 mm). [viii], cclxxii; [viii], clxxi, [1, printers engraving]; [viii], clxxii-ccclxix [leaves]. With some errors in pagination, but collates complete. a8, a6-tt6, vv4, xx6-yy6; A8, B6-DD6, EE4, FF6; A8, B6-NN6. In Volume I, leaf c6 is bound out of order in front of leaf c1. With separate title-pages for each volume. Each title-page with a large calligraphic woodcut initial. Woodcut initials throughout all volumes. Woodcut illustration of the author writing on verso of second and third title-pages. A full-page woodcut representing the saints of France (St Denis and St Remy) opposite B1 in second and third volumes. Jean Petit's woodcut device on verso of terminal leaf in first volume, Michel le Noir's woodcut device on verso of terminal leaf in second and third volumes.
19th-century full mottled brown calf. Boards double-ruled in gilt. Spine elaborately stamped in gilt. Brown calf spine label, lettered in gilt. Edges speckled red. Front hinge in tender and has a repair. Volume I, with some small holes repaired to blank margin of title-page, just affecting a few letters on verso and a6 with a tear to top margin, just touching headline. Leaf c6 and yy5 with a repaired corner, not affecting text. Volume III with marginal repairs to blank fore-edge of leaves L6, Q6 and VV3, not affecting text. Some minor staining and soiling. Bound a bit tight. Previous owner's old ink note on title-page of first and second volume. Still a very good copy.
Enguerrand de Monstrelet "was a member of a noble family of Picardy, remembered for his chronicle of the final stages of the Hundred Years’ War. His chronicle is valuable because of the many authentic documents used and the credibly accurate speeches it records. Monstrelet was in the service of John of Luxembourg, who besieged Compiègne before Joan of Arc’s capture; and, though he did not see Joan captured, he witnessed her later interview with Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy. Monstrelet’s chronicle, in two books, continues that of Jean Froissart and covers the years 1400–44." (Brittanica).
"Enguerrand de Monstrelet was from a noble family, and was probably born in the late thirteenth century. He followed a military career and may have been Enguerrand mentioned as the captain of the count of Saint-Pol in 1422. He retired to Cambrai in 1436 and died in 1453. He was an active participant in the last phase of the Hundred Years War. This phase of the war began after the death of King Charles VI in 1422... Throughout the Hundred Years war and the Burgundian attempt at independence, historians participated on both sides. de Monstrelet wrote on the Burgundian side, as did Thomas Basin, while Matthew d’Escouchy wrote on the French side. However, de Monstrelet began his chronicle in 1399, where an earlier French chronicler, Jean Froissart, ended his account, and d’Escouchy picked up from de Monstrelet. Therefore, although historians wrote propaganda for one side, they were acutely aware of what the other side was producing. De Monstrelet was highly successful as a historian; there are many manuscripts of his work and his history was printed very early in the history of printing." (jeanne-darc [dot] info).
Preceded by two editions by Antoine Verard, in 1500 and 1508.
USTC 1022
HBS 69263.
$10,000. (Inventory #: 69263)
[MONSTRELET, Enguerrand de]. Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet. Paris: [Jean Petit and Michel le Noir, 4 December 1512].
First Michal le Noir edition of Monstrelet's important chronicles. Complete as three volumes in one. Thick folio in sixes (10 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches; 260 x 183 mm). [viii], cclxxii; [viii], clxxi, [1, printers engraving]; [viii], clxxii-ccclxix [leaves]. With some errors in pagination, but collates complete. a8, a6-tt6, vv4, xx6-yy6; A8, B6-DD6, EE4, FF6; A8, B6-NN6. In Volume I, leaf c6 is bound out of order in front of leaf c1. With separate title-pages for each volume. Each title-page with a large calligraphic woodcut initial. Woodcut initials throughout all volumes. Woodcut illustration of the author writing on verso of second and third title-pages. A full-page woodcut representing the saints of France (St Denis and St Remy) opposite B1 in second and third volumes. Jean Petit's woodcut device on verso of terminal leaf in first volume, Michel le Noir's woodcut device on verso of terminal leaf in second and third volumes.
19th-century full mottled brown calf. Boards double-ruled in gilt. Spine elaborately stamped in gilt. Brown calf spine label, lettered in gilt. Edges speckled red. Front hinge in tender and has a repair. Volume I, with some small holes repaired to blank margin of title-page, just affecting a few letters on verso and a6 with a tear to top margin, just touching headline. Leaf c6 and yy5 with a repaired corner, not affecting text. Volume III with marginal repairs to blank fore-edge of leaves L6, Q6 and VV3, not affecting text. Some minor staining and soiling. Bound a bit tight. Previous owner's old ink note on title-page of first and second volume. Still a very good copy.
Enguerrand de Monstrelet "was a member of a noble family of Picardy, remembered for his chronicle of the final stages of the Hundred Years’ War. His chronicle is valuable because of the many authentic documents used and the credibly accurate speeches it records. Monstrelet was in the service of John of Luxembourg, who besieged Compiègne before Joan of Arc’s capture; and, though he did not see Joan captured, he witnessed her later interview with Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy. Monstrelet’s chronicle, in two books, continues that of Jean Froissart and covers the years 1400–44." (Brittanica).
"Enguerrand de Monstrelet was from a noble family, and was probably born in the late thirteenth century. He followed a military career and may have been Enguerrand mentioned as the captain of the count of Saint-Pol in 1422. He retired to Cambrai in 1436 and died in 1453. He was an active participant in the last phase of the Hundred Years War. This phase of the war began after the death of King Charles VI in 1422... Throughout the Hundred Years war and the Burgundian attempt at independence, historians participated on both sides. de Monstrelet wrote on the Burgundian side, as did Thomas Basin, while Matthew d’Escouchy wrote on the French side. However, de Monstrelet began his chronicle in 1399, where an earlier French chronicler, Jean Froissart, ended his account, and d’Escouchy picked up from de Monstrelet. Therefore, although historians wrote propaganda for one side, they were acutely aware of what the other side was producing. De Monstrelet was highly successful as a historian; there are many manuscripts of his work and his history was printed very early in the history of printing." (jeanne-darc [dot] info).
Preceded by two editions by Antoine Verard, in 1500 and 1508.
USTC 1022
HBS 69263.
$10,000. (Inventory #: 69263)
(310) 659-3674
