[Rudimentum novitiorum] Le premier (-second) volume de la mer des histoires, Paris, 1536, Parisian alla greca binding, the Castellan–Beaupré–Fairfax-Murray–Rahir copy

2 parts in one volume, folio (336 x 245 mm). Gothic type, 52 lines plus headline. collation: π⁴ ã⁸ A-2P⁶ 2Q⁴ (2Q4 blank); ã⁴ a-x⁶ 2a-2i⁶ 2k⁴: 244 + 188 leaves. 2 double-page illustrations depicting the world and Palestine, 78 woodcut illustrations including 53 full-page and 16 half-page woodcut tables, first title printed in red and black, woodcut printer's device on final verso, ruled in red throughout. (Some very light browning.)

binding: Parisian alla greca binding (341 x 254 mm) of tan morocco, c. 1555-1560, by the Royal Binder, 2 narrow frames formed by 2 pairs of gilt fillets, enclosing a broad frame containing gilt rinceaux of leafy forms executed by freehand gougework on a painted black background, central mandorla decorated with raised interlaced strapwork, added later to the lower left gilt stamp of the arms of Charles de Castellan (d. 1677), flat spine decorated with a semé of gilt trefoil and 3 large fleurons painted black over a criblé ground, traces of 4 bronze pins for clasps on upper cover and traces of 4 clasps with 3 braided strands on lower cover, edges gilt and gauffered, in green morocco box. (Binding somewhat rubbed, a few small neat repairs, corners slightly chipped.)

provenance: "Ex lib. Pasch Delalande 1637" and "10#", early inscriptions to upper pastedown, and "20#" to upper endleaf—erased inscription to head of title-page—Charles de Castellan (d. 1677), Abbé commendataire of the Abbey of Saint-Epvre de Toul, gilt armorial stamped to covers (Olivier 802)—red oval inkstamp to title-page and final leaf of text—Jean-Nicolas Beaupré (1795-1869), advisor to the Imperial Court, large engraved ex-libris to upper pastedown—Charles Fairfax Murray (1849-1919), his sale, Christie's, London, pt. II, 18 March 1918, lot 526—Édouard Rahir (1862-1924), bookplate to upper pastedown, sale, Henri Baudoin & Fernand Lair-Dubreuil with Francisque Lefrançois, Paris, part II, 7-8 May 1931, lot 594—Dr. Lucien Graux (1878-1944), bookplate, his sale, Christie's, Paris, part II, 26 January 1957, lot 79—Dominique Courvoisier, bookplate "DC," with gilt tree and motto "Entretenir le feu et veiller sur les cendres" to upper pastedown, sale, Binoche & Giquello, Paris, 14 February 2018, lot 3. acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: BP16 108304; USTC 1055; Mortimer French 469