Auvergne (province of the)

titled "La Conté d'avergne", containing 37 illuminated coats of arms of the Counts of Auvergne and of Boulogne, followed by those of the medieval emperors Artus, Henry of Germany, Countess Mahault of Boulogne, the King of Portugal, Marie de Montgascon, Jeanne ("Jehane") de Clermont, Bertrand de la Tour, John (Jehan), Duke of Albany, Anna de La Tour, Lorenzo de' Medici, Henri II of France and Catherine de' Medici, executed in gold, silver and watercolours; together with ten drawings of their castles and communes in the Auvergne (now in the Puy-de-Dôme department) in ink & colour-wash and titled "Vic Le Compte", "Buron", "Mercurol", "Cramps", "Iboys", "Couppeil", "Sainct Babel", "Busseoul", "Mirefleur" and "Las", [French provenance: the Auvergne, second half of the sixteenth century].



10 leaves, on vellum (c.37 x 24cms), red-ruled borders throughout, contemporary olive morocco, apparently bound for presentation to Margaret de Valois: lettered "Margareta Decus Liliorum" in the elaborate gilt fillet border with roses & lilies and mottos, including in the central cartouche ("Unde orta est huc redeat res"), some light staining and cockling

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is a most attractive manuscript illustrating the genealogy of two of the most significant queens of France and their links with the Auvergne: Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589), wife of Henry II, and Margaret de Valois (1553-1615: "la reine Margot"), wife of Henry IV.

The arms include those of the medieval ancestors the emperors Artus [Arthur?] and Henry of Germany, the thirteenth-century Countess Mahault de Boloigne, through Marie de Montgascon (1376-1437), down to Anna de La Tour (1496-1524), Lorenzo de' Medici and Margaret's parents, Henri II of France (1519-1559) and Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589). The final coat of arms names Catherine as the guardian of the Auvergne ("Tutela Civitatis Arvernorum": now Clermont-Ferrand), Margaret married Henri III of Navarre in 1572, before he became Henri IV of France in 1589.