217 - [RENAUT DE MONTAUBAN]. The Four Sons of Aymon: Duke of Dordonne—namely, Regnaut, Alard, Guichard, and Richard—along with their cousin Maugist. Paris, Nicolas Bonfons, n.d. [circa 1573–1580]. Gothic in-4, red morocco leather, scrollwork with a gold ribbon border, fleurons at the corners, coat of arms in the center, plain but decorated spine, green title label, interior scrollwork, gilt edges (18th-century binding).

[RENAUT DE MONTAUBAN]. The Four Sons of Aymon: Duke of Dordonne—namely, Regnaut, Alard, Guichard, and Richard—along with their cousin Maugist. Paris, Nicolas Bonfons, n.d. [circa 1573–1580]. Gothic in-4, red morocco leather, scrollwork with a gold ribbon border, fleurons at the corners, coat of arms in the center, plain but decorated spine, green title label, interior scrollwork, gilt edges (18th-century binding). A very rare Gothic edition, the last of this chivalric novel from the Charlemagne cycle, which saw some twenty editions over the course of a century. (Bechtel, F-153.) The illustrations include a large woodcut on the title page—printed in red and black—depicting the four sons of Aymon riding the horse Bayard (this woodcut is repeated once in the text and again on the front of the last leaf), as well as seven medium-sized woodcuts within the text. A printer’s mark appears on the verso of the last leaf, featuring the effigies of Justice and Mars. This major and highly popular work of epic literature, whose legend stems from the Carolingian cycle, recounts the adventures of the four sons (Allard, Renaut, Guiscard, and Richard) of Duke Aymon, a vassal of Charlemagne, and of the enchanter Maugis, who protects them with his magical powers. A fine copy bound in morocco leather in the late 18th century, in excellent condition: it comes from the library of Baron Achille Seillière at the Château de Mello, with his coat of arms later stamped on the covers (1887, no. 90). From the library of Sir Thomas Brooke at Armitage Bridge (engraved coat-of-arms bookplate). A tear with no loss at the top of folio P1, which is short at the bottom, with the signature on that folio cut off. Restoration at the corner or in the margin of about ten folios. Small stains and fingerprints. Expert: Mr. Dominique Courvoisier