13 - BOCCACE (Jean). *The Unfortunate Nobles*. Newly printed in Paris. Paris, Anthoine Vérard, 1494. Folio (365 x 266 mm), black morocco leather, with multiple blind-stamped bands on the covers and spine, gilt edges (Belz, successor to Niédrée).

BOCCACE (Jean). *The Unfortunate Nobles*. Newly printed in Paris. Paris, Anthoine Vérard, 1494. Folio (365 x 266 mm), black morocco leather, with multiple blind-stamped bands on the covers and spine, gilt edges (Belz, successor to Niédrée). Collation: a-m8, n6, o-z8, A6, B-E8, F6, G-L8, M10, AA8, BB6, CC-EE8. 314 leaves, comprising eight unnumbered preliminary leaves and 305 numbered leaves (incorrectly numbered CCC). Complete with both blank leaves (M10 and EE8). Fourth edition of the French translation, by Laurent de Premierfait, of *De casibus virorum illustrium*, preceded by the following editions, all extremely rare: Bruges, Colard Mansion, 1476; Lyon, Mathias Huss and Johannes Schabeler, 1483; and Paris, Jean du Pré, 1483 (1484 n.st.), the latter being the first non-religious illustrated book published in Paris. A magnificent volume, one of the finest published by Antoine Vérard, superbly printed in Gothic type in two columns and masterfully illustrated with ten large, full-page woodcut plates, three of which are repeated. This edition is itself of the utmost rarity: only ten copies, including two incomplete ones, are listed by the ISTC in international public collections. No complete copy appears to have appeared at public auction since the one from the Fairfax-Murray Library (1917), acquired by the Library of Congress. The Flamm copy, recently offered on the market (Christie’s, January 28, 2025), was missing the title page. No copy is listed in the Sander catalog (Prices of Incunabula, 1930). A superb, complete copy, including the two blank folios (M10 and EE8), with very wide margins (365 x 266 mm, compared, for example, to 334 x 232 for the Flamm copy). A few restored marginal wormholes on about a dozen leaves; one of them, unrestored but minimal, affects a few letters (leaves b4–b5), paper reinforcement on the inner margin of one leaf (h6); minor brown marginal stains on a few leaves, posing no serious concern. Ex-libris of the Bibliothèque Méry de Bellegarde on the front endpaper. Acquired by Émile Rossignol in 1961. Fairfax-Murray, 48; Goff- B-714; Gw 4435; MacFarlane 38; Pellechet 2485; Polain 709. H. 3344; ISTC: ib00714000