Chrétien de Troyes - Lot 161

Chrétien de Troyes Lancelot du lac. Le premier, second et tiers volume. Paris, Philippe Le Noir and Jehan Petit, 1533. 3 parts in 1 large folio volume, gothic printing on 2 columns. Bound in 17th-century full calf with the arms of Guillaume Marescot, King's Counselor. Spine with gilt title, cold fleurons in the boxes. Binding faded, but restorable. Spine cracked and open, leather rubbed, corners and edges missing. Work collated as follows: The title page of the first part is missing, as are the first leaf a1 and leaf a4, on the verso of which an engraving depicts Lancelot receiving his sword from King Arthur. The title page has been replaced by a blank page on which the title is inscribed in pen and ink. The first table leaf has been replaced by a manuscript leaf, but not the fourth; the last blank leaf at the end of the third part is missing. All table leaves, as well as the first leaf of the novel proper, are detached. The entire novel has been collated. It is complete with the text of its other 2 title pages, as well as Philippe Le Noir's handsome bookseller's mark. A little wetness in the upper margin on a few quires. Beautiful gothic printing with handsome historiated and riddled lettering. Interesting provenance for this volume, which belonged to Nicolas Moreau d'Auteuil, treasurer of France in the late 16th century, bibliophile and manuscript collector. We find his signature and motto repeated four times, "a l'ami son cœur", an anagram of his name. Then, in the 17th century, Guillaume de Marescot had it bound with his coat of arms, and finally this copy reappeared in 1935 in the catalog of bookseller Lucien Gougy (cat.IV, 1935, n°1085). Sixth and last Gothic edition of one of the finest and rarest romances of chivalry. Part of the Grail cycle, Lancelot du Lac was published in only 6 early editions between 1488 and 1533 (Brunet). Expert : Sylvain LANGLOIS