- 946
Froissart, Jean
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
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Description
- Froissart, Jean
- Le premier volume de Froissart, des croniques de France, dangleterre, descoce, despaigne, de bretaigne, de gascongne, de flandres et lieux circonvoisins. Paris: Guillaume Eustace, 1513
- Ink, paper and cow
Folio (12 1/2 x 8 1/8 in.; 320 x 208 mm). Eight preliminary leaves including title page and blank, 271 leaves, printed on two columns, Gothic type, woodcut title with elaborate grotesque initial, woodcut printer's device on-title page and last leaf (verso, another version), four-line woodcut initials. Latin and Greek manuscript ownership inscriptions on title-page. Lacking first and last blanks (renewed).
Contemporary English calf, large ornamental gilt frame, gilt arms of Henry, Duke of Richmond in a gilt decorated medallion, with gilt book stamp "Henricus Dux Richmundiae" on upper panel; rebacked with the original spine, later gilt stamp title on spine, extremities rubbed. Modern case.
Contemporary English calf, large ornamental gilt frame, gilt arms of Henry, Duke of Richmond in a gilt decorated medallion, with gilt book stamp "Henricus Dux Richmundiae" on upper panel; rebacked with the original spine, later gilt stamp title on spine, extremities rubbed. Modern case.
Provenance
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset (armorial binding) — Walter Mildmay (signature and Latin motto "virtute non vi" on title page) — Richard Broke (ownership inscriptions "ex dono ricardi Broke, Anno 1553," "Ex dono Ri Broke 1553"; and signed twice in English on title and first endpaper) — John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland (1784- 1859); with Latin motto ("Solus Deus protector meus" ["Only God is my protector"], signed "W" on recto of front endpaper) — Edward Vernon Utterson (bookplate and autograph note signed "EVU" on renewed first blank) — Sir Clive Milnes-Coates (Lord Crewe's son-in-law, d. 1971; monogram booklabel) — Sir John Colville (Winston Churchill's private secretary, d. 1987). acquisition: Bernard Quaritch, 1989
Literature
Brunet II, 1405
Catalogue Note
Henry FitzRoy's copy of Froissart's Chronicles.
Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset was the son of King Henry VIII and his mistress, Elizabeth Blount, and the only illegitimate offspring whom Henry VIII acknowledged.
The Froissart's Chronicles are considered the masterpiece of the chivalry novel and was very popular at Henry VIII's court. It may have been read to the young Prince as it celebrates the heroic actions of English knights.
The Prince died at seventeen years of age, and because of his short life, books from his library are extremely rare.
The copy was then owned by Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer of England under Queen Elizabeth I, and founder of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.