Item: Gaguinus Compendium de Gestis Francorum 1504 Petit Badius Erasmus Woodcuts
Sold For: $2,600.00
Bids: 27
Date: Jul 05, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Description and Image By: csborgal2
The 1504 edition of the great ‘compendium de gestis francorum,’ beautifully illustrated with numerous inhabited woodcut initials and two full-page woodcuts depicting a beheaded st. Denis, st. Remy and the arms of the 12 pairies of france – the chief french secular and ecclesiastical cities and provinces. The book contains an important commendatory letter by erasmus – it was his first work to appear in print. The book was printed for jean petit by jodocus badius ascensius, and is one of the first books from his press, which was established only in 1504. Offered is the very rare and very attractive 1504 edition of robertus gaguinus’ ‘compendium de gestis francorum,’ printed in quarto at paris for jean petit by jodocus badius ascensius, complete in all respects, adorned with two full-page woodcuts (serving as titles), numerous inhabited woodcut initials, and the fine woodcut printer’s mark of jean petit, from the library of the prince and princess henri de la tour d’auvergne-lauraguais, untrimmed and very rare thus, and bound in 16th or 17th century rigid vellum. The opening full-page woodcut reads as follows: “hec sunt framcoru[m] celebranda insignia regu[m] que demissa polo sustinet alma fides / ro. Gaguinus.” The title is found on the first leaf of the text proper and reads as follows: “in co[m]pendiu[m] de gestis francoru[m] praefatio. / roberti guaguini ordinis sancta trinitatis generalis ministri in nova[m] co[m]pendii de francoru[m] gestis editione[m] praefatio.” The colophon leaf opens with a poem by badius that begins ‘jodoci badii ascensii de operis huius accessione atque augmento.’ this is followed by petit’s woodcut mark and by the colophon proper, which reads as follows: “praeclarissimum hoc de francoru[m] gestis co[m]pendiu[m] multis notatu[m] dignissimorum additionibus librique unius accessione locupletaru[m]: & non segni accuratione a mendis tersum: impressum diligenter in officina bellovisiana & in inclyto parisiorum gymnasio impe[n]sis optimi & diligentissimi bibliopole ioannis parvi. Anno gratie m. Quingentessimo quarto ad idibus augusti. / deo gratie. / omnes chartarum complicationes sunt terne.” This is the second complete and second illustrated edition of gaguin’s important chronicle of french history, first published by pierre le dru in “1499” (i.e., 1495, goff g-12). One of the leading exponents of the early humanist movement at paris, gaguin was a friend of guillaume fichet, whom he assisted in establishing the sorbonne printing press. Josse bade (i.e. Jodocus badius ascensius), who had been working as editor for jean trechsel in lyon, came to paris in 1499, partly at gaguin’s urging; in 1503 bade set up his own press. Gaguin’s friendship with erasmus dated from the latter’s arrival in paris in 1495. Erasmus’ commendatory letter is reprinted here from le dru’s edition, where it marked his first appearance in print. Gaguin, who had complained of the many printing errors in the first edition, remained involved with the production of the subsequent editions, for each of which he brought his chronicle up to date. In the present edition, which is the first posthumous edition and may therefore be considered definitive, gaguin continues his history into the reign of louis xii, concluding with louis’s settlement of a dispute between the dukes of juliers and gelderland during his return from italy in late 1499. This copy includes the paragraph of 9 lines at the end of the text recounting the punishment pronounced on 9 january 1500 against those held responsible for the collapse of notre-dame in october 1499 (cf. Gw anm. 1). The handsome woodcut, which shows saints denis and remy flanked by the coats-of-arms of the 12 pairies, the chief french secular and ecclesiastical cities and provinces, appears for only the second time in this edition. This excellent example of the 1504 second complete (and first badius) edition of gaguinus’ ‘compendium de gestis francorum’ is from the library of the prince and princess henri de la tour d’auvergne-lauraguais. In 1916, prince henri de la tour d’auvergne-lauraguais married elisabeth berthier de wagram, daughter of the third prince de wagram and a member of the rothschild dynasty. The house of de la tour d’auvergne includes within its lines the counts of auvergne and boulogne, the viscounts of turenne and princes of sedan, and the dukes of bouillon and albret. The line of de la tour d’auvergne-lauraguais became in the 1896 the final surviving line of the house of de la tour d’auvergne. De la tour d’auvergne-lauraguais are one of only six families (alongside the houses of savoie, lorraine, grimaldi, rohan and la tremoille) to be granted the rights and privileges accorded to foreign princes. The volume is complete in all respects and is paginated [8], 163, [1]. The volume measures 30.4 cm by 22.4 cm by 3.9 cm; each leaf measures about 297 mm by 218 mm. The volume is bound in 19th or early 20th century marbled boards with a paper label giving the title upon the spine. The binding is in excellent condition, with strong hinges and a strong book-block; it shows very little wear. Internally, the volume is in about very good condition, with generally clean pages, clear print and sufficient margins throughout. The title is mildly toned and the final leaf is restored at the upper outer corner, not affecting the text. In all, this is an excellent example of the very rare and very attractive 1504 edition of robertus gaguinus’ ‘compendium de gestis francorum,’ printed in quarto at paris for jean petit by jodocus badius ascensius, complete in all respects, adorned with two full-page woodcuts (serving as titles), numerous inhabited woodcut initials, and the fine woodcut printer’s mark of jean petit, from the library of the prince and princess henri de la tour d’auvergne-lauraguais, untrimmed and very rare thus, bound in 16th or 17th century rigid vellum.