Lancelot du Lac | Paris, 1513, three volumes in two, half green calf, Edward Gage's copy

Lancelot du Lac

Le premier (-tiers) volume de Lancelot du Lac. Nouvellement imprime a Paris. Paris: [Michel le Noir], 1513

3 volumes in 2, folio (263 x 185mm.), gothic type, large woodcut calligraphic initials on title-pages, woodcut illustrations, woodcut initials, woodcut printer's device at end of volumes 2 and 3, half green morocco by Hatchards of Piccadilly, lacking â4 in vol. 2 (containing end of table of contents and possibly a woodcut), first title-page reinforced at foot and with a few small wormholes, a few other small wormholes (and a few marginal paper repairs), early inscription trimmed from head of title-pages, spines slightly faded

A RARE NEAR-COMPLETE SET (except for one preliminary leaf) of the 1513 Le Noir edition of Lancelot du Lac, recorded in just six incomplete copies by BP16. Bechtel records just two complete sets.

The romance of Lancelot du Lac was first published in 1488, then by Antoine Vérard in 1494; this is considered the fourth edition and is closely based on Vérard's text, with similar woodcuts, including the illustration opposite the beginning of the text showing the presentation of the book to the king (Charles VIII, to whom Vérard's text was dedicated). Lancelot was printed a further three times by 1533 before falling out of fashion.

This copy has been in the same family since not long after publication; the first recorded owner died in 1569.

PROVENANCE:

Edward Gage, early inscription on first title (likely to be Edward Gage of Firle, 1503-1569); Viscount Gage, armorial bookplate

LITERATURE:

Bechtel, Gothiques françaises L-40 (giving date as c. 1512); BP16 102295; USTC 49390, 49398, 49699