1;The marvelous binding that covers this volume was executed by the same artist as the Paul Jove and the Pline from the first Rahir sale (1931, n6; 117 and 195). It can also be compared to volumes III and V of Saint Jean Chrysostome, Froben, 1530, bound for Grolier, around 1550, by Cupid’s Bow Binder, (Cf. Major J. R. Abbey catalogue, III, 1967, n6;, 1755, pl.).”
(Comprehensive description from the sumptuous catalog of the Rapha1;El Esm6;rian sale from June 6, 1972. Experts Georges Blaizot and Claude Gu1;rin, sold at 84,400 FF (approximately 13,000 8;), 52 years ago).</
Provenance:Debret ; Robert Hoe (1912); R. Esm1;rian (1972); Rossignol.
Lyon, Jean de Tournes, 1554.
Bible. La Sainte Bible.
Lyon, by Jean de Tournes, 1554.
3 volumes in one large folio volume.
Collation:
First part: (14) ff. signed A6, *8, 507 pp. signed a-z6, aa-ss6, tt8, (1) p.
Second part: 433 pp., (3) pp. including 2 blank (Nn8), numbered [1] to [434], signed A-Z6, Aa-Mm6, Nn8
Third part: 248 pp. wrongly numbered 288, signed a-v6 and x8, (4) ff.
Ruled copy. Tawny calf, large frame of black wax interlaces decorated with curved lines enriched with blue, green, cream, and white wax fleurons; in cartouches, repeated four times on each cover, a triple crescent mosaic of white wax, spine with 7 bands, decorated alternately in gold and blind with repeated tools, gilt and tooled edges, green morocco box. Binding of the period.
385 x 250 mm.
First folio Bible published by Jean de Tournes.
Cartier, n6; 266.
One of the most beautiful productions of Jean I de Tournes (1504-1564).
It immediately attracted the attention of bibliophiles of the time, some did not hesitate to entrust their copy to the great binding workshops of the era.
The text is taken from the Protestant Bibles of Geneva, for the Old Testament from that of 1540 printed by J. G0;rard, for the New Testament from that of 1551 by the same printer.
Only the Old Testament is illustrated. It contains some of the woodcuts of the famous series of historical quadrats by Bernard Salomon (?1569), or 181 vignettes, used here for the first time in a Bible, and 11 of the large plates specially engraved for the folio Bibles.
The volume is adorned with initials from the alphabet on a dotted background and with headpieces.
Printed in Garamond typefaces.
Ruled copy, very fresh.
Spectacular and imposing binding, contemporary with the edition.
By its design adapted to its format and the use of certain tools, it recalls the productions of the “art of Cupid” (Cupid’s Bow Binder), a practitioner who worked for Grolier, after Claude de Picques was appointed in 1548 the king’s binder.
His period of activity extends from this date to the years 1555. He worked for members of the court and famous bibliophiles: Catherine de Medicis, Anne de Montmorency, Louis de Sainte-Maure, Marc Lauwerijn, Pope Paul IV, Alfonso VI d’Este, and the Duke of Ferrara.
His favorite leather was calf.
Our binding is to be compared with the Cicero bound in the 1550-1555 for Louis de Sainte-Maure, the Pline and Jovius from the Rahir sales, and volumes III and V of Saint Jean Chrysostome bound for Grolier and part of the 1967 sale of Major J.R. Abbey.
“Ruled copy, bearing an old signature of Bret on the title.
The marvelous binding that covers this volume was executed by the same artist as the Paul Jove and the Pline from the first Rahir sale (1931, n6;117 and 195). It can also be compared to volumes III and V of Saint Jean Chrysostome, Froben, 1530, bound for Grolier, around 1550, by The Cupid’s Bow Binder, (Cf. Major J.R. Abbey catalogue, III, 1967, n6; 1755, pl.).”
(Comprehensive description from the sumptuous catalog of the Rapha1;El Esm6;rian sale from June 6, 1972. Experts Georges Blaizot and Claude Gu1;rin).
Provenance: manuscript ex-libris Debret with the reference 60, the commissioner of the binding; R. Hoe (Cat. II, 1912, n6; 187), “Contemporary French binding in calf, covered with a Grolieresque design… A Fine Specimen.”); Esmerian (Cat. I, 1972, n6; 37, “The marvelous binding that covers this volume…”).
Brunet, I, 890; Graesse, I, 375 (“… by the beautiful execution typogr. and the lovely woodcuts“); Chambers, Bibliography of French Bibles, 1983, n6; 191; Cartier, Bibliography of the de Tournes editions, T. I, n6; 266; Douen, Hist., pp. 307 and 311; [Nixon], Bookbindings from the Library of Jean Grolier, 1965, p. 59 (“nearly all these bindings are of brown calf“); Hobson (A.), Italian 16th century bookbindings, p. 106, n6; 43; Abbey, Catalogue of valuable printed books and fine bindings, 1965, n6; 145 (for an ex. of this bible bound by the last binder of Grolier).
Sold at 84,400 FF (approximately 13,000 8) 52 years ago. Among the 126 jewels from the 16th century present in this first Esm6;rian sale only 11 pieces were reproduced in color, this one being the only one to benefit from 2 color photographs.
The recent New York auctions of copies from this 1972 Esm6;rian sale are almost 20 times the prices reached then.
