Gassendi, The mirrour of true nobility and gentility, London, 1657, near-contemporary French mottled calf gilt for Longepierre

8vo (168 x 109 mm). Roman type, 35 lines plus headline. collation: A⁸ (a)⁴ B-O⁸ Aa-Tt⁸: 272 leaves (O8 blank). Engraved portrait of Pieresc preceding title, woodcut initials and headpieces, (a)4 advertisement, smudged manuscript annotation to Rr6r. (Some quires browned, light spotting throughout, 20mm tear without loss to lower outer corner of F2, paper flaw to foot of N7 affecting 3 letters.)

binding: French mottled calf (174 x 120 mm), late seventeenth- or early eighteenth-century, double gilt fillets around sides, spine with 5 full bands and 2 false bands, Longepierre's gilt golden fleece in compartments, edges gilt and gauffered around sides. (Binding slightly rubbed at extremities, wear to spine ends, joints cracking, lacking morocco letterpiece.)

provenance: Hilaire-Bernard de Roqueleyne, Baron de Longepierre (1659-1731), golden fleece to spine—"B.S.", manuscript initials on title-page and C2v—Library of the Earls of Macclesfield, pressure stamp on first 3 leaves and bookplate dated 1860, with "£375.00" added in pencil. acquisition: Purchased in 2009 from Maggs Bros., London. references: USTC 3070464