DU MONIN (Jean-Édouard).
Ɵ L'Uranologie, ou Le Ciel. Contenant, outre l'ordinaire doctrine de la Sphaere, plusieurs beaus discourses dignes de tout gentil esprit. Paris, Guillaume Julien, 1583. In-12, fawn basane, spine decorated, red edges (18th century binding).
First edition of this poem of more than 6500 verses, "the only long astronomical poem of the French literature of the Renaissance" (Isabelle Pantin).
Dedicated to Philippe Desportes, it is decorated with a woodcut portrait of the author, in medallion, aged 23. Among the introductory pieces, a curious Heutain Bourgueingnon in patois signed Phelipot de Gyton veille clargenot.
A "literary meteor with a tragic destiny" (N. Ducimetière), Jean-Édouard du Monin was born around 1557 in Gy, a town near Vesoul. Appointed professor at the prestigious college of Burgundy at the age of 21, he was adored by his students, in ecstasy in front of his knowledge, and took himself for the best disciple of Ronsard (I will always have the only Ronsard for only imitable & only inimitable said he). He died in obscure circumstances, murdered one evening in November 1586.
With the Uranologie, his major work, he achieved the feat of composing in French a poem entirely devoted to the sky, the model for which existed only in Latin at the time.
Handwritten ex-dono on the title, almost erased; mention crossed out in blue ink on the title.
On the title, the last digit of the date is overwritten in pen, changing the date to 1584.
Mottling at the top of the title, paper evenly scorched. Small repair in the margin of the penultimate leaf. Binding rubbed, two jaws cracked.
Isabelle Pantin, La Poésie du ciel en France, pp. 315 ff. - Diane Barbier-Mueller, Inventaire..., n°300.
