Details
THOMAS KEMPIS, Saint (1380-1471). De Imitatione Christi. Paris: Typographia Regia, 1640.
Large 2 (370 x 253 mm). Half title, ruled in red throughout. Engraved title and engraved head- and tail-pieces. (Some light staining). Contemporary French maroon morocco, wide gilt borders, with central unidentified arms (gueulles, a lion rampant or, supported by two lions rampant, beneath a marquis' coronet, not in Olivier), the shield onlaid in red morocco, spine elaboratly gilt in compartments, each tooled with a gilt lion-rampant, doublures in red morocco with large gilt dentelle (corners bumped, rubbed).
The First Book to be printed by the Imprimerie Royale, in a fine contemporary binding. The Imprimerie Royale was founded in 1640 by Cardinal Richelieu.
Large 2 (370 x 253 mm). Half title, ruled in red throughout. Engraved title and engraved head- and tail-pieces. (Some light staining). Contemporary French maroon morocco, wide gilt borders, with central unidentified arms (gueulles, a lion rampant or, supported by two lions rampant, beneath a marquis' coronet, not in Olivier), the shield onlaid in red morocco, spine elaboratly gilt in compartments, each tooled with a gilt lion-rampant, doublures in red morocco with large gilt dentelle (corners bumped, rubbed).
The First Book to be printed by the Imprimerie Royale, in a fine contemporary binding. The Imprimerie Royale was founded in 1640 by Cardinal Richelieu.