Henri ESTIENNE. Project for the book entitled... Lot 146

Henri ESTIENNE. Project for the book entitled De la precellence du langage François. In-8, brown morocco, double fillet and gilt foliate medallion, ornate 5-rib spine, interior lace, gilt edges ( Capé). Brunet, II-1075 // Cioranescu, 9616 // De Backer, 22. (16f.)-295-(1f. white) / ã8, ē8, A-S8, T4 / 102 x 161 mm. Rare and sought-after first edition. The eldest son of the great printer Robert Estienne, Henri Estienne (1528-1598) was one of the great scholars of his time. He had a perfect command of all modern languages, as well as ancient ones, and some of the Oriental languages. From his early teens, he traveled in search of ancient texts, and in Geneva, where he had settled, published works of great erudition in linguistics, theology and philosophy, as well as numerous texts by ancient authors. The De la precellence du langage françois was written at the request of Henri III to demonstrate that the francoyse language surpasses all vulgar ones, and that thus, nostre nation ha un plus grand preparatif à l'eloquence qu'aucune autre. The work is a lengthy dissertation in which Henri Estienne addresses all areas of the language, using precise examples to demonstrate why French is excellent among the excellent. A very fine copy, despite a trace of scuffing with no lack of leather on the first cover. Leaflet F4 has 2 holes in the lower margin due to lack of pulp during papermaking.