HOMER. Les Dix Premiers Livres de l'Iliade. Paris: Vincent Sertenas, 1545. 2° (270 x 194mm). Woodcut title, woodcuts at head of each book. (Lacking C1-C6, D1 and G4, light spotting and staining, a few marginal tears). Later sheep in contemporary style, gilt with armorial stamp, gilt edges (worn). Provenance: ?De Cahidene (ownership inscription).

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HOMER. Les Dix Premiers Livres de l'Iliade. Paris: Vincent Sertenas, 1545. 2° (270 x 194mm). Woodcut title, woodcuts at head of each book. (Lacking C1-C6, D1 and G4, light spotting and staining, a few marginal tears). Later sheep in contemporary style, gilt with armorial stamp, gilt edges (worn). Provenance: ?De Cahidene (ownership inscription).

'ONE OF THE HANDSOMEST BOOKS PRINTED AT PARIS' (Fairfax Murray). It is the first edition of Salel's translation and contains a title woodcut of Homer as the Fountain of Poetry. The woodcuts are influenced by Geoffrey Tory with their lack of shading and outline depiction of the figures. 'The italianate style introduced into the French book by Tory reaches its height in these illustrations' (Mortimer). Brun, p. 223; Brunet III, 290; Fairfax Murray French 250; Mortimer, Harvard French 293.

More from Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts including a selection from the Malcolm S. Forbes Jr. Churchill Collection and Photobooks from the Calle Collection

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