Dijon, Philibert Chavance, 1656.
Folio of 1 frontispiece, (7) ll., 117 pp. with 2 engraved figures in the text, 1 page with the colophon, 6 folding plates, 10 full-page plates, 2 full-page plates with explanatory text opposite. A total of 18 engraved plates out of text. A tiny tear formerly restored in a plate, plate of the second column formerly reinforced at the back. Limp vellum, flat spine, small lack of vellum at the bottom corner of the upper cover, geometrical design traced with a compass on the lower cover. Contemporary binding.
307 x 203 mm.
Rare first edition of the relation of the sumptuous feast offered by the city of Dijon to Bernard de Foix de la Valette, duke of Epernon (1592-1661), on may 8, 1656.
Barbier, 277; Brunet, Suppl. I, 61; Vinet, 784; Ruggieri, 486; Berlin 2997.
“The main character of this entry is not, as one might suppose at first sight, the favorite of Henri III, but his son, Bernard de Nogaret, de la Valette et de Foix, duke of Epernon, peer of France, count of Candale, governor of Burgundy and Bresse, colonel general of the French infantry, died in 1661.
This entry was magnificent. The entire nobility of Burgundy came along. Eight hundred gentlemen accompanied the duke. The plates which illustrate the account of this entry represent four triumphal arches, with emblems, a column set up for the festival in the street Saint-Etienne, and the fireworks which were shot on the place of the Sainte-Chapelle.
Volume omitted by Brunet and Grässe.” (Vinet).
The present work was made by Bénigne Grignette, “advocate in Parliament & Eschevin of the city of Dijon”, in collaboration with Jean Godran, also a lawyer of the city, who drew the architectural elements of the festival.
“Rare and curious book” (Ruggieri).
“This very rare volume of Entrée is illustrated with a beautiful frontispiece and 18 plates, triumphal arches, columns, allegorical figures, fireworks, etc., engraved by Mathieu, after Godran.” (Destailleur, n°254).
The remarkable illustration engraved by A. Mathieu after Jean Godran includes 19 figures including a superb frontispiece, 12 full-page plates and 6 folding representing the 4 triumphal arches erected for the occasion by the city of Dijon, the portico erected at the Porte d’Ouche, an imposing “military column” resembling Trajan’s column as well as the sumptuous fireworks that were shot on the place de la Sainte-Chapelle.
A precious very pure copy, preserved in its original limp vellum binding, of this very beautiful mid-seventeenth century book of festivities.
