Rouen, David Ferrand & Thomas Dare, 1641. 8vo. In contemporary limp vellum with title in contemporary hand to spine. Small paper-label pasted on to upper part of spine. Light soiling and a few stains to extremities. Previous owner's inscription in contemporary hand to front free end-paper: ""jamais un brave coeur ne fait / tort a personne / Pertrus Bartholomei Hanstein"" (i.e. English: A brave heart never harms anyone, Pertrus Bartholomei Hanstein). His name is also inscribed in lower margin of title-page. A few small worm-tracts in outer margin, slightly touching text on the engraved half-title. (12), 890, (2) pp. + engraved half-title.
The very rare second edition of Sieur de Saint-Lazare’s collection of dramatic baroque stories. It was first published in 1635 and both editions are rare. We have not been able to trace a single copy at auction of the first edition and only one copy of this second edition (Il Ponte 2024: 649-4). OCLC list one copy of the first edition (Accession no: 34496921) and none of this present second edition. “This work contains twenty-nine chronicles in which, as the author says on his title page, ""se voyent plusieurs belles maximes d'Estat, & quantite d'exemples fort memorables, de constance, de courage, de generosite, de regrets, & repentances"". The chronicles deal with outstanding figures and happenings in contemporary or recent history. We meet Henry of Navarre, Sultan Osman of Turkey, Wallenstein, the Duke of Buckingham, and other less well-known figures. The sixteenth story is that of ""Catherine Royne de Georgie, & des Princes Georgiens, mis a mort par commandement de Cha-Abas Roy de Perse"". (Leopold, Andreas Gryphius and the Sieur de Saint-Lazare: A study of the tragedy Catharina Jon Georgien in relation to its French source). Not in Brunet, Graesse or Barbier.