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AMADIS DE GAULA. -- Le premier[-quartriesme] livre de Amadis de Gaule. Translated from Spanish by Nicolas de Herberay. Paris: Book I Estienne Groulleau, 1548 (colophon: Groulleau for himself, Ian Longis and Vincent Sertenas, 1548); book II for Groulleau, 1550 (colophon: printed by Pasquier le Tellier, March 1549); book III Groulleau, 1547 (colophon: for Sertanas, 1 Dec. 1547); book IV by & for Denys Janot (colophon: 10 Feb. 1543).
4 books only (of 12) in one volume, 2° (297 x 200mm.). Book I: ã, A-Z AA-BB6; II: ã, A-Q6 (K2 missigned K3); III: ã, A-P6 Q4 (ã4 blank); IV: ã, A-Q6 R-V4. Groulleau's woodcut thistle device on titles, numerous woodcut illustrations (two full-page). (Occasional minor paper-faults, book I: first four leaves with wormhole running through upper blank margin, title repaired, tear to margin of X1, II: G4 holed with loss to a few characters, IV: first four leaves heavily browned, A3 shaved with slight loss to marginal illustrations on verso, lower outer corner of blank margin of P2 torn away.) Modern red morocco gilt by McLeish. Provenance: Viscount Mersey (Bignor Park booklabel).
FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH of book IV. Books I-XII of these translations of Spanish romances were published in Paris between 1540 and 1556. Their popularity in the 16th century rivalled that of Scott in the 19th. The translation was undertaken by Nicolas de Herberay, seigneur des Essarts, at the instigation of François I, but ill-health allowed him to complete only the first eight books. Books I to IV contain the romance of Amadis de Gaule proper. The collection of blocks used in this series reappeared in various later editions of Boccaccio, Primaleon, Palmerin de Oliva and other romances. Cf.Mortimer/Harvard 18 (books I-XII); cf.Adams A871 (book IV, different publisher).
4 books only (of 12) in one volume, 2° (297 x 200mm.). Book I: ã, A-Z AA-BB6; II: ã, A-Q6 (K2 missigned K3); III: ã, A-P6 Q4 (ã4 blank); IV: ã, A-Q6 R-V4. Groulleau's woodcut thistle device on titles, numerous woodcut illustrations (two full-page). (Occasional minor paper-faults, book I: first four leaves with wormhole running through upper blank margin, title repaired, tear to margin of X1, II: G4 holed with loss to a few characters, IV: first four leaves heavily browned, A3 shaved with slight loss to marginal illustrations on verso, lower outer corner of blank margin of P2 torn away.) Modern red morocco gilt by McLeish. Provenance: Viscount Mersey (Bignor Park booklabel).
FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH of book IV. Books I-XII of these translations of Spanish romances were published in Paris between 1540 and 1556. Their popularity in the 16th century rivalled that of Scott in the 19th. The translation was undertaken by Nicolas de Herberay, seigneur des Essarts, at the instigation of François I, but ill-health allowed him to complete only the first eight books. Books I to IV contain the romance of Amadis de Gaule proper. The collection of blocks used in this series reappeared in various later editions of Boccaccio, Primaleon, Palmerin de Oliva and other romances. Cf.Mortimer/Harvard 18 (books I-XII); cf.Adams A871 (book IV, different publisher).