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Le prothocolle des secretaires et aultres gens de´sirans scavoir l' art et maniere de dicter en bon francoys toutes lettres missives et espistres en prose. Paris: Jean Longis for Jean Denis, [c. 1533].
8° (139 x 89mm). Gothic letter, ruled in red throughout. Title in red and black, historiated and criblé initials, large woodcut device of Jean Denis on verso of final leaf. Blue morocco janseniste by Trautz-Bauzonnet, gilt turn-ins, marbled and gilt edges. Provenance: Adolfo Tura (bookplate).
This manual for scribes and secretaries on correct style in writing letters for various occasions is extraordinarily rare. After a short prologue, where the anonymous author explains the purpose and function of his book, he goes on to specify the different manners in which to address a correspondent, whether princes, high officials or friends and family. He introduces a broad range of genres for letters and gives specific examples: Lettre escrite au roy en faveur d'un prétendant à l'ordre de chevalerie (letter to the king in favour of an aspirant to the chivalric order), Lettres d'amour (love letters), Lettres domestiques et familières (letters for household- and family-matters), Un bon compagnon de guerre escript à son capitaine (a good wartime comrade writes to his captain) … etc. Particularly interesting in this context is a letter titled Un quidam escrit à un libraire de Paris, notably inquiring about livres proprement et mignonnement reliés.
In the 16th century, the art of writing letters was an art in its infancy for the non-professional, and this is the first French book to discuss and introduce the subject. It represents the heritage and combination of various schools of writing: the tradition of the secretaries and scribes, the art of antique rhetoric and discourse as well as teaching the guidelines for good manners and style.
Alan Montandon, Bibliographie des traictés de savoir-vivre en Europe du Moyen Âge à nos jours, I, p. 31 (for the edition of Oliver Arnoullet, Lyons 1534); USTC no. 45070.
8° (139 x 89mm). Gothic letter, ruled in red throughout. Title in red and black, historiated and criblé initials, large woodcut device of Jean Denis on verso of final leaf. Blue morocco janseniste by Trautz-Bauzonnet, gilt turn-ins, marbled and gilt edges. Provenance: Adolfo Tura (bookplate).
This manual for scribes and secretaries on correct style in writing letters for various occasions is extraordinarily rare. After a short prologue, where the anonymous author explains the purpose and function of his book, he goes on to specify the different manners in which to address a correspondent, whether princes, high officials or friends and family. He introduces a broad range of genres for letters and gives specific examples: Lettre escrite au roy en faveur d'un prétendant à l'ordre de chevalerie (letter to the king in favour of an aspirant to the chivalric order), Lettres d'amour (love letters), Lettres domestiques et familières (letters for household- and family-matters), Un bon compagnon de guerre escript à son capitaine (a good wartime comrade writes to his captain) … etc. Particularly interesting in this context is a letter titled Un quidam escrit à un libraire de Paris, notably inquiring about livres proprement et mignonnement reliés.
In the 16th century, the art of writing letters was an art in its infancy for the non-professional, and this is the first French book to discuss and introduce the subject. It represents the heritage and combination of various schools of writing: the tradition of the secretaries and scribes, the art of antique rhetoric and discourse as well as teaching the guidelines for good manners and style.
Alan Montandon, Bibliographie des traictés de savoir-vivre en Europe du Moyen Âge à nos jours, I, p. 31 (for the edition of Oliver Arnoullet, Lyons 1534); USTC no. 45070.
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