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Nicolas Machiavel
Épreuve du tirage d'Odieuvre. en feuille Bon Paris XVIIIè
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5 book(s) with the same title
Histoire florentine de Nicolas Machiavel citoien et Secretaire de Florence. Nouvellement traduicte d'Italien en Francois, Par le Seigneur de Brinon Gentil-homme ordinaire de la chambre du Roy. - [FIRST FRENCH TRANSLATION OF MACHIAVELLI'S 'FLORENTINE HISTORIES']
Paris, Guillaume de la Noue, 1577. 8vo. In recent full limp vellum with yapp edges. Woodcut printer's device on title, woodcut headpieces and initials. Small closed tear to upper inner margin of title-page. First 33 ff. with small worm tract in inner margin, with minor loss of text. Light dampstaining to first and last leaves. A good copy. (36), 294, (6) pp.
The exceedingly rare first French, and presumably very first overall, translation, of Machiavelli's Florentine Histories" his famous account of the political events and power struggles in Florence during the Renaissance. Essentially being a panegyric to the house of Medici, Machiavelli's work offers valuable insights into the rise and fall of political factions, the challenges faced by republican governments, and the dynamics of power in a city-state. Although often overshadowed by his more famous 'The Prince', the present work is important in understanding Machiavelli's broader political philosophy and is an indispensable document in understanding renaissance politics in general. The Histories constitute an essential work for understanding the political development of the late Machiavelli, and is “also an important item in modern historiography because for the first time the issue of conflict, and more precisely of urban conflict, finds itself at the heart of historical narrative (…).Infact, the Histories constitute the first attempt in modern historiography to analyze the totality of individual and collective agents and factors that allow a community to sustain itself or to founder. This analytical quality was certainly at the basis of the interest in the work outside Florence and the fact of its being translated. As Yves de Brinon explains in dedicating his ‘Histoire Florentine [the present work] to Cathrine de Medici, the case of Florence is a model for the dangers that threaten the integrity of every state and the Kingdom of France in Particular.” (Landi, A re-reading of Machiavelli). Machiavelli visited France, representing the Republic of Florence, where he - and later his writings - exercised great influence. The Huguenot, Innocent Gentillet, whose work commonly referred to as 'Discourse against Machiavelli' or 'Anti Machiavel', accused Machiavelli of being an atheist and accused politicians of his time by saying that his works were the ""Koran of the courtiers"", that ""he is of no reputation in the court of France which hath not Machiavel's writings at the fingers ends"" (Birely, The Counter Reformation, 1990). “Although Machiavelli became the embodiment of a real ""devil theory of history,"" there was nothing supernatural or even suspicious about his journey across the Alps. As the French translator remarked to his customers in 1544, ""This Florentine merchant has voluntarily left his own country to be received into yours.... Do not be so ungracious as to refuse him citizenship. From all appearances he was welcomed with open arms, or at least open minds. Within a few years, one of his admirers declared that he was a prophet honored more in France than in his own country."" (Kelley, Murd'rous Machiavel in France: A Post Mortem). Following the crisis of 1513, which involved arrests for conspiracy and torture, Machiavelli's relationship with the Medici family gradually improved. Despite the dedication of his book ""Il Principe"" to Lorenzo II de' Medici having little effect, Machiavelli found favor with a faction in Florence that was not opposed to him and was granted an appointment. In a letter Machiavelli expressed his dissatisfaction with his idle state and offered his valuable political experience to the new ruler. To further solidify his position, Machiavelli, adopting a somewhat courtier-like attitude, arranged for the staging of his play ""Mandragola"" at the wedding of Lorenzino de' Medici in 1518. In 1520, he received an invitation to Lucca for a semi-private mission, indicating that his ostracism was coming to an end. Later that year, Giulio Cardinal de Medici commissioned him to write a history of Florence. Although this was not exactly the role he desired, Machiavelli accepted it as the only way to regain the favor of the Medicis. The purpose of the work, although unofficial, was to restore the city's official historical standing. The salary for this appointment was not substantial, starting at 57 florins per year and later increased to 100. In May 1526, Machiavelli formally presented the finished work to Giulio de' Medici, who had become Pope Clement VII. The Pope appreciated the work and rewarded Machiavelli, though only moderately, and sought his support in creating a national army based on his theoretical work ""The Art of War,"" in preparation for the War of the League of Cognac. However, Machiavelli's hopes were shattered following the Sack of Rome in 1527 and the fall of the Medici government in Florence. Soon after, Machiavelli passed away. This exceedingly scarce first French edition was issued with two variant title-pages, the present referred to as variant-b. (see Gerber, Niccolo Machiavelli). Bibliopgraphia Machiavelliana, p. 60, no. 160. Gerber, dritter teil, p. 37, D-b. Brunet 1279.
Le Prince / de Nicolas Machiavel,... ; traduction française d'Amelot de La Houssaye
Paris, Jean de Bonnot 1971 In-8 21 x 14 cm. Reliure éditeur plein daim fauve, dos lisse à faux-nerfs, encadrés de fers dorés, pièces auteur et titre cuir havane, plats estampés d’un décor à froid, tête dorée, 128-[78] ff., texte imprimé en bonne page, à droite, lettrines. Exemplaire en très bon état. On joint le prospectus de l’éditeur.
Très bon état d’occasion
Machiavel, par Marcel Brion, suivi de : Œuvres de Nicolas Machiavel.
Club des Editeurs, 1957, fort in-8°, 431-80-xxxvii pp, 29 pl. de gravures hors texte, biblio, tirage numéroté sur papier pur alfa d'Avignon, reliure toile noire de l'éditeur avec un buste de Machiavel en vignette au 1er plat, dos lisse avec titres dorés, bon état (Coll. Hommes et faits de l'histoire)
Une longue étude sur Machiavel par Marcel Brion (431 pp), suivi des Œuvres de Machiavel (80 pp) et de Textes annexes dont un glossaire, un index historique et un index biographique. — "Homme de la plèbe, fils de la democratique Florence, le florentin Niccolo Macchiavelli était appelé par ses hautes et rares qualités aux postes de commande de l'Etat, mais ses chefs qui surent l'utiliser, ne lui permirent jamais de sortir ostensiblement du rang. C'est l'histoire de son génie et de sa destinée que vient de nous livrer Marcel Brion. Au lieu de faire une étude de l'œuvre théorique du Florentin, M. Brion nous fait entrer de plain pied dans l'histoire de cette Italie du XVe siècle finissant et nous en livre l'âme. Querelles des principautés, rivalités des fonctions, puissances d'argent qui tenaient la dragée haute par leur morgue insolente, conspirations, assassinats au grand jour ou attentats habilement dissimulés, guerres, razzias et famines, négociations interminables où les deux parties jouaient au plus fin, n'ayant l'air de céder sur un point que pour en exiger davantage sur un autre : voici le milieu où vivait Macchiavel, milieu d'hommes avides de sensations comme de pouvoir, temps des grands érudits comme Pic de la Mirandole et Léonard de Vinci qui savaient tout ce qu'un homme pouvait savoir alors, et des grands condottieri, Sforza, Gattamelata, Colleone, Malatesta et les Vietili. (...) M .Brion a le mérite d'avoir tracé le véritable portrait de Machiavel, bien différent de la figure traditionnelle que les dramaturges élizabéthains ont contribué à propager. Il faut avoir lu l'ouvrage de Marcel Brion pour avoir l'intelligence de l'œuvre du grand Florentin qui puisa sa sagesse, non dans la réflexion bornée du théoricien en chambre, mais dans la connaissance profonde de l'éternel humain." (M. D. Husni, Les Études philosophiques, 1949) — "Un livre remarquable sur Machiavel. M. Marcel Brion est attiré par les grandes figures de l'Histoire : Bayard ou Blanche de Castille, Charles le Téméraire ou Savonarole, et dans des livres écrits d'une plume élégante, où le récit est toujours d'une scrupuleuse exactitude, il les ressuscite au milieu de leur époque. Les chapitres sont vivants, les événements retracés avec leur couleur et leur pathétique, l'atmosphère du temps parfaitement rendue ; les personnages se meuvent avec un fort relief, et l'auteur, pour animer ses pages, n'a jamais recours à des procédés artificiels : il se contente de savoir raconter et peindre avec talent." (Revue des Deux Mondes, 1948)
