Les Décades, qui se trouvent de Tite Live, mises en langue françoise : la première, par Blaise de Vigenere [...]. La tierce, tournée autrefois par Jean Hamelin de Sarlat; et recentement recourüe et amendée presque tout de neuf. Le reste, de la traduction d'Anthoine de La Faye [- La troisième décade [...] contenant la seconde guerre punique, soubs la conduite d'Annibal [...]].

2 vol., folio: [16]-462-[2] pp.-1752 col.-[3] pp.-1790-[67-1 bl.] ff., 201-[1 bl.]-230-[69-1 bl.] ff. (occ. stains, printed cancel in the margin of p. 153 vol. I, damp stains in vol. I, some foxing in the end of vol. I, ms. correction of the date on title of vol. II, f. 72 strongly soiled in vol. II).

Contemp. overl. vellum, ink titled flat spines, green silk ties (rubbed). Very good wide-margined copy.

Rare first edition of the translation by the poet Blaise de Vigenère (1523-1596): he fully translated the 1st decade, the epitome of 2nd decade by L. Florus and he revised the translation by Jean Amelin of 3rd decade and Antoine de La Faye's of 4th and 5th decade. Important edition because of the extended introduction, commentaries and annotations by de Vigenère concerning every aspect of Ancient Rome (history, geography and topography, architecture and monumental art, epigraphy, religion, everyday life, etc.). That part, nicely illustrated with 133 nice woodcuts in-text (4 larger), 2 full-page portraits (Livius and dedicatee Henry III) and 11 full-page ill. incl. 2 maps. B. de Vigenère was the secretary of the Duke of Nevers, position he held until the deaths of the Duke and his son in 1562, and later of Henry III. He visited Rome twice, the first time in 1549 on a two-year diplomatic mission. Very neat typography with large device of J. du Puys on titles.
Ref. Adams L-1356. - Pettegree (FB) 34866. - STC French p. 285. - Not in Mortimer.
Prov. François Bonaventure Joseph du Mont (1739-1787), marquis de Gages (armorial bookpl.). - Count L. de Nédonchel, "Bibliothèque de Boussoit" (id.).