Calligraphic facsimile of “Le purgatoire sai[n]ct Patrice. (Paris, [Alain Lotrian, 1527])”.

French manuscript on paper, c. 13,3 x 9 cm, [16] ff., in a skilfully written gothic letter ("lettres bâtardes").

19th-c. gilt dark leather by Bauzonnet, covers with triple gilt ruled border and gilt corner pcs, richly gilt spine on 5 raised bands, gilt sides, triple gilt ruled border inside, a.e.g., marbl. endpapers, red silk marker (very sl. rubbed). In good condition (toned).

The French bibliophile Auguste Veinant (1799-1859), i.a. author of "Bibliotheca scatologica", was an avid collector of early French printing. He copied and reprinted books he was not able to acquire, mostly in a very limited number. The Lotrian ed. of "Le purgatoire sainct Patrice" (known in only 2 copies: BnF, Chantilly – Moreau III:1313) was reprinted by him in a facs. ed. of 42 copies (Paris 1840). For himself he made this near perfect manuscript facsimile, with stunning copies of the 3 woodcuts and the historiated initials of the 1527 ed. Prov. "Comte de Sauvage, 1900", i.e. Étienne de Sauvage (1789-1867), Belgian politician and collector (pen note on front flyleaf). - [Georges Petit].