Histoire de Louys XI. Roy de France. Et des choses mémorables advenuës en l'Europe durant vingt & deux années de son règne. Enrichie de plusieurs observations qui tiennent lieu de commentaires [...].

Folio: engr. title-[42]-604 [= 596]-[34] pp. (tear strengthened to title, occ. foxing or sm. soiling, remains of stamp on verso of engr. title).

19th-c. three-quarter sheep, marbled paper covers, flat spine with gilt roll-stamps, red edges (rubbed, front joint partly split and with 2 wormholes).

First edition of the story of the reign of Louis XI. Nicely illustrated engr. title. The poet and historian P. Matthieu (1563-1621) was a lawyer at the Présidial Court of Lyon. Despite his attachment to the House of Guise and the Catholic League, he was sent in 1594 by the inhabitants of Lyon to Henry IV to assure him of their loyalty. Matthieu was also in charge of organizing the reception of the King in Lyon in 1595. He later moved to Paris and became historiographer.
Ref. Barbier II:720. - Goldsmith (BL) 683.
Prov. Monogrammed stamp on title. - Joseph van Zuylen (1871-1962), Argenteau, Belgian politician (mod. ms. entry).