PUGET DE LA SERRE (Jean).

Les Amours du roy et de la reine, sous le nom de Jupiter et de Junon, avec les magnificences de leurs nopces, ou l'histoire morale de France, soubs le regne de Louys le Juste et Anne d'Austriche. Paris, Nicolas Bessin, Denis de Cay, 1625. In-4, jansenist garnet morocco, fillets on the edges, lining edge to edge of the same morocco, gilt edges, edged case (C. Honnelaître). Very rare first edition, dedicated to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. The work relates in mythological and symbolic form the alliance of the royal couple, the negotiations led by Monsieur du Maine, the engagement during the extraordinary feast at the Place Royale in 1612, until the arrival of the future queen at the Louvre and the wedding night. Only this volume was published, despite the mention of the end of the first volume in fine. It has never been republished. Splendid baroque illustration in the first edition, which makes the work similar to the best festive books, evoking essentially the festivities, ceremonies, shows and games at the court of Louis XIII, on which it constitutes an extraordinary testimony. It consists of 27 (out of 28) full-page plates, engraved in intaglio by Daniel Rabel, Charles David, Michel Lasne, Jean Picart, Michel van Lochom and Montcornet, including the title-frontispiece and the portraits of the king and queen by Michel Lasne, as well as a few bands and lettering also engraved on copper. A luxurious copy in a Jansenist binding lined by Claude Honnelaître. It has been washed, which has faded the handwritten annotations of the time in the margins of the Histoire morale (pp. 335-433). Unidentified wet stamp at the bottom of the title (Lugt, n°1969d). Missing the plate of the royal chariot opposite p. 1, as well as 2 blank ff. (ẽẽ2 and IIi6). Lever, 60 - Duportal, 169 and 284.