MONSTRELET’S CONTINUATION OF FROISSART

MONSTRELET, Enguerrand de. The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet; Containing an Account of the Cruel Civil Wars between the Houses of Orleans and Burgundy; of the Possession of Paris and Normandy by the English; Their Expulsion Thence; and of Other Memorable Events that Happened in the Kingdom of France… Beginning at the year MCCCC, where that of Sir John Froissart Finishes. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1853. Two volumes. Tall, thick octavo, mid 20th-century three-quarter green pebbled calf, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, marbled endpapers and edges. $750.

Later English language edition of this historical account of France during the first half of the 15th century, with additional chromolithographic title page and 102 in-text wood-engravings, handsomely bound.

First published in French around 1470, Monstrelet’s continuation of Froissart’s Chronique covers the period between 1400 and 1444— especially valuable for the large number of authentic documents relating to the latter part of the Hundred Years’ War. Appended to Monstrelet’s work is a sequel, extending to 1516, prepared from a variety of other chronicles. The illustrations in this edition are notable for their “pictorial excellence, and the accurate delineation of architecture and costume… and many of the landscapes and views of places having been made expressly for this work are invested with an additional interest, as possessing a guarantee of fidelity, in which mere copies of the works of others are necessarily deficient.” Included are Bon-Joseph Dacier’s “Life of Monstrelet; with an Essay on his Chronicles” and “Observations on the Chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet” by de Foncemagne.

A near-fine copy, with only faint spots of foxing to first and last few leaves; Volume one joints expertly reinforced.