BRANTOME’S VIES DES DAMES GALANTES, BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED

BRANTOME, Pierre de Bourdeille Seigneur de. Vies des Dames Galantes. Paris: Le Vasseur, 1935. Three volumes. Royal octavo, contemporary full polished brown morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated boards and spines, red morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, uncut. $950.

Later edition of Brantome’s collection of scandalous anecdotes of the 16th-century court of Catherine de Médicis and her entourage, number 387 of 450 copies on tinted vellum from the Papeteries du Marais, out of 525 sets printed. Richly illustrated with 60 color plates and color head- and tail-pieces of engravings by Edmond Malassis.

Writing in a lively style, with uncritical frivolity and absence of morality (but also, when he has personal knowledge of the subject, with obvious sincerity), [Brantome] throws a vivid light on the externals of military and court life and provides a document for the historian of manners.” His works present a fascinating picture of court life; the loves, vanities, and follies of the dames galantes described here are presented in entertaining and sometimes graphic erotic detail. Edmond Malassis was a prolific artist, but is particularly known for his illustrations in this set. Text in French. First published in 1655. Benezit, 7: 112. Armorial bookplate.

A lovely set in fine condition, with exceptional illustrations.