Erasmus, Les Apophtegmes, Paris, 1539, Parisian black morocco for Adolf von Schaumburg

ERASMUS, DESIDERIUS. Les apophthegmes. Cest a dire promptz subtilz et sententieulx ditz de plusieurs Royz, chefz darmees, philosophes et autres grans personnaiges tant Grecz que Latins. Translatez de Latin en francoys par lesleu Macault notaire, secretaire, & vallet de la chambre du Roy. Paris: [Charlotte Guillard], 1539

First edition of Antoine Macault’s translation of Erasmus into French, based on the 1531 Basel edition.

A FINE PARISIAN BINDING MADE FOR ADOLF VON SCHAUMBURG. Jean Picard made numerous similar bindings for Grolier, which were previously attributed to Claude de Picques. It has been suggested that this binding was perhaps made by the Salel Binder, using Picard’s tools. The dating of the binding is limited by the wording of Schaumburg’s title; he ceased being coadjutor in 1546.

8vo (169 x 102 mm). Roman type, 29 lines plus headline. Collation: a-z⁸ A-N⁸: 288 leaves (last leaf blank). Woodcut criblé white-on-black initials, ruled in red. (Occasional light damp-staining, small ink smudge on title-page, last few leaves with small area of damage in gutter.)

Binding: Contemporary Parisian black morocco gilt (177 x 115 mm), probably by Jean Picard, covers with an undulating central cartouche containing the owner’s name and titles on upper cover and the title on the lower cover, both within a frame of gilt and blind fillets with corner fleurons, spine with small gilt fleuron in each compartment and lettering in the second compartment, gilt edges, stubs from two pairs of ties. In black buckram drop-backed folding box. (Upper joint neatly repaired, spine slightly creased.)

Provenance: Adolf von Schaumburg (1511-1556), count of Holstein and (at the time of binding) coadjutor of the metropolitan church of Cologne, name on binding (he became Archbishop of Cologne in 1547) — illegible signature on title-page — note in French on inside front cover stating "inconnu a Brunet" — Martin Breslauer Inc., catalogue 104/II (New York, 1981), item 151. Acquisition: Purchased in 1989 from Martin Breslauer, New York. References: BP16 109313; USTC 13021; Nixon, Grolier Bindings, tools EF 17, C. de P. 1-3 (used together), 8a-b, 12, 42