RONSARD (Pierre de).

Les Œuvres. Reveuës, corrigées & augmentées par l'Autheur peu avant son trespas. Paris, Gabriel Buon, 1587. 10 volumes bound in 5 in-12, black morocco, boards framed with gilt fillet and decorated with mosaic Renaissance decoration in fawn morocco, gilt numeral in center, spine decorated with repeated numeral, fawn morocco lining, chocolate moire endpapers, slipcases (Honegger). First posthumous edition and seventh collective edition of Ronsard's works, entirely prepared by the poet on the basis of the in-folio edition of 1584. It is extremely rare and of great importance, as it reflects the last wishes of the Prince of Poets for correction and classification (J. P. Barbier-Mueller). Having just completed the Grand Œuvre of 1584, Ronsard set about correcting it for a new collective. Death prevented him from seeing the publication of the latter, which was assured by his two executors, Claude Binet, a magistrate-poet who had won Ronsard's confidence in the last years of his life [...], and Jean Galland, principal of the Collège de Boncourt, the friend and confidant of old age. According to Claude Binet himself, upon his death Ronsard left him his works "corrected by his last hand to keep them in order for printing". He also gave his literary executors the manuscripts of the new pieces he wanted to appear in this final edition, along with precise indications of its layout (Ronsard, la trompette et la lyre, n°270). Attractive binding decorated with a mosaic motif in the Renaissance style, bearing the collector's number. From the library of academician Ferdinand Brunetière (1849-1906). The first volume shows old handwritten notes in the margins, sometimes in Greek; the last volume is ruled. Some dampstaining and foxing, very numerous in the fourth volume. Minor crack restored to the corner of 4 leaves of notebook G in the second volume. J. P. Barbier-Mueller, II-2, n°34. - Diane Barbier-Mueller, Inventaire..., n°768.