Bertrand DU GUESCLIN. Bertrand du Guesclin. Les... Lot 47

[Bertrand DU GUESCLIN]. Bertrand du Guesclin. Les prouesses et vaillãces du preux ﾌ vaillãt chevalier Bertrand du Guesclin. Former connestable of France. Small in-4, red morocco, triple fillet, nicely decorated 5-rib spine, date 1529 at foot, red morocco lining adorned with a double gilt fillet and interior framed with a roulette and double gilt fillets, double endpapers, gilt edges ( Thibaron-Joly). Baudrier, X-58 // Bechtel, 248/D-409 // BnF, BP16-104381 // Brunet, II-869. (78f.) / a-I8, K6 (in uppercase or lowercase) / 35 long lines, car. goth. / 128 x 189 mm. Third edition of this novel of chivalry recounting the life of one of the greatest men of war of the Middle Ages. The life of this Breton lord (circa 1314-1380), who fought many battles in the service of France against the English and was named Constable in 1360, cannot be summed up in a few lines. His valour and courage made him both a historical and legendary figure. The life of this famous company commander who delivered France from the companies and the English has been sung, that is, spoiled and obscured, in a kind of chivalric epic that was probably composed to revive the military spirit of the nobility (Michelet). The first edition was published in Lyon in 1486, and a second appeared in Paris in 1521. The present edition was subsequently printed in Lyon in 1529. Title in red and black, a large woodcut on the title depicting Du Guesclin on horseback leading his troop towards a town, and 5 smaller woodcuts in the text, numerous initials. We have not found any provenance marks on this copy, and our research on this subject has been unsuccessful. Moreover, we know of very few copies, and believe the edition to be very rare. The BnF copy is incomplete with the first 9 leaves. A very fine copy.