70 - [BIBLE]. The First Two Books of Kings, Translated into French—The Psalms of David.

[BIBLE]. The First Two Books of Kings, Translated into French—The Psalms of David. A superb bilingual edition featuring Lemaître de Sacy’s French translation, presented in beautiful full calfskin bindings of the period. Paris, Guillaume Desprez and Guillaume Cavelier Jr., 1742–1745. In-8, brown speckled full calfskin, spine with guilloché raised bands, gilded fleurons in the spaces between the ribs, title label and volume number in red and brown morocco, blind-stamped borders on the covers, ornate caps and edges, endpapers and inner covers in marbled paper, red speckled edges (contemporary binding). 9 uncut leaves, 656 pp., and 4 uncut leaves ; 2 unnumbered folios, 666 pp., and 1 unnumbered folio, repeated title vignette, 3 engraved headers, initials, and tailpieces. Text in Latin and French. Printed in one or two columns. Binding slightly rubbed, one cap missing and one cap trimmed, fragile hinge on the front and back covers, small loss to the title label of Volume II. Rare, minor foxing. A bilingual edition of the first two books of Kings (Volume 1) and the Psalms of David (Volume 2), in the French translation by Isaac-Louis Lemaistre de Sacy (1613–1684), taken from the famous Port-Royal Bible. It is accompanied by an extensive spiritual and exegetical commentary drawn from the writings of the Church Fathers (including St. Augustine and John Chrysostom) and ecclesiastical authors. The illustrations include three beautiful engraved vignettes: one at the beginning of each of the two Books of Kings and one at the beginning of the Psalms. Carefully typeset on fine laid paper, printed by Guillaume Desprez, the historic and official printer of the Solitaires of Port-Royal and of Sacy’s translation. Complete set in 2 volumes. A fine copy in a contemporary binding.