52 - MALHERBE (François de). The Works of Monsieur François de Malherbe, Ordinary Gentleman of the King’s Chamber. Paris, Charles Chappelain, 1630. In-4 (248 x 175 mm), contemporary brown calfskin binding, spine ribbed and finely decorated with dotted metal stamps, red edges.

MALHERBE (François de). The Works of Monsieur François de Malherbe, Ordinary Gentleman of the King’s Chamber. Paris, Charles Chappelain, 1630. In-4 (248 x 175 mm), contemporary brown calfskin binding, spine ribbed and finely decorated with dotted metal stamps, red edges. First edition, a copy from the initial print run, prior to the addition of 18 lines to the “Discourse on the Works of M. de Malherbe” written by Godeau. This famous posthumous edition—the first to bring together the works of the foremost of our great classics and which served as a model for all subsequent editions—was published based on the author’s notes by his cousin François d’Arbaud de Porchères. It contains numerous variations compared to pieces that had previously appeared separately or in various anthologies of the time. Twenty-four poems appear here for the first time. A very beautiful portrait of Malherbe engraved by Vosterman after a drawing by Daniel Dumonstier, a renowned portraitist, bibliophile, and libertine, who was regarded in his day as “the finest draftsman in Europe.” ONE OF THE VERY RARE COPIES ON LARGE-FORMAT PAPER. Its height exceeds the average size of ordinary bound copies of the time by approximately three centimeters. Jules le Petit (Bibliography of the Principal First Editions of French Writers from the 15th to the 18th Century, 1888, p. 11), was undoubtedly the first to mention this edition, which had remained unknown to Brunet; at the time, he cited only the J. Renard copy in morocco leather lined with Trautz. Another copy, in fawn calfskin bearing the coat of arms of J.-A. de Thou, appeared at the Guyot de Villeneuve auction with the following comment: “The large-format edition is very rare; it is not mentioned by Brunet. I know of only one other copy, which was sold at the Béhague auction” (Guyot de Villeneuve Cat., II, 1901, no. 701). Very well-preserved copy in a strictly period binding, finely decorated. Handwritten bookplate signed “De la Chastre, 1759” on the title page. Restored splits at the joints. Corners replaced. Acquired by Émile Rossignol in 1966.