La Nef des Princes. [Suivie de :] La Nef des batailles.

Precious gothic edition combining in second edition “La Nef des Princes” by Champier with “La Nef des Batailles” by Barsac.

Brunet, I, 1770; Brunschwig, 219-220.

A highly reputed physician from Lyon, Symphorien Champier (1472-1533) embodied the multiple personalities and avid knowledge of the Pre-Renaissance period.

Following the duke of Lorraine who accompanied Louis XII to Italy in 1509, he was at the battle of Marignan on 13 september 1515 and won the title of “Golden Knight”.

A poet, theologian, philosopher and doctor, he published several works in both Latin and French.

“La Nef des Princes” or theory of governement intended for the prince, mixing prose with verse, is peppered with moralities, erudition and “many joys”.

The work  is composed of several treatises:

“The Government and regime of the young Prince.

The proverbs of Princes.

The doctrinal of Princes.

The dialogue of nobility.

The declaration of heaven, the world and the wonders of the earth.

The doctrinal of the father of the family”…

One pamphlet is devoted to the “bigamist Matheolus“, under the title “la malice des femmes“.

Printed in Gothic the edition is illustrated with 6 interesting woodcut figures: representation of the Last Supper, three schematic plans (105 mm) of the geographical situation and finally a very curious woodcut (90 x 85 mm) depicting a learned man in his library in his library, reading a book on a lectern, a naked woman on his shoulders holding geometric instruments. This woodcut is repeated on the special title of La Nef des batailles.

“Woodcut representing the Last Supper, and another showing a figure busy reading, with a naked woman holding geometric instruments on his shoulders”. (Brun, Le Livre Français illustré de la Renaissance, 152).

The general title printed in red and black bears the mark of Philippe Le Noir, repeated on the verso of the last leaf (Renouard 624).

A fine copy of these charming and rare illustrated Gothic editions, elegantly bound by Koehler with the cipher of A. Audenet (1839, n°40).