De la bataille judaique.

Folio: [8]-cclix ff., ca. 47 ll. (dampstaining on the first quires and the last ff., some soiling, lower right corner of the first ff. sl. torn, errors in foliation, last bl. missing).

Mod. blind-stamped quarter leather "à l'antique" over wood, spine with four raised bands, metal clasps (spine sl. rubbed).

First edition of the French translation of Flavius Josephus' "De bello Judaico", sometimes attributed to Claude de Seyssel (d. 1520), considered one of the best examples of French political thinking in the early 16th century. Ill. with numerous woodcuts. Each book opens with a large woodcut, surrounded by borders with decoration of flowers, birds, etc. Three of these woodcuts (24 x 18 cm) were made specifically for this edition. They represent the author presenting his book to the King of France in front of a scene depicting the siege of Jerusalem, a priest in armour with his companions witnessing a battle within the walls of Jerusalem (repeated), and Emperor Nero with his councillors giving commission to Vespasian (repeated). Printed in Gothic type, in 2 col.
Ref. ISTC ij00489000. - GW M15198. - BMC VIII:78. - Polain 2336 (our copy). - Bod-inc J-225. - CIBN J-314. - Not in BSB-Ink.
Prov. Maximilien de Rouck (ms. ownership entry, 16th c.). - Nicolaus Bronchorstius (ms. ownership entry, 16th c.). - Antoine Leclerq (ms. ownership entry, 17th c.). - [Georges Petit].