Hystoire tresrecreatiue traictant des faictz et gestes du noble et vaillant cheualier Theseus de Cologne/ par sa prouesse Empereur de Romme. Et aussi de son filz Gadifer Empereur de Grece [...] [and: Second volume ...].

Folio: [4]-C.vii (= 107)-[1 bl.], [4]-C.xxxiii (= 133) ff. (lacking final blank; cut somewhat short at top, sl. toned, a few sm. spots).

19th-c. crimson morocco by Trautz-Bauzonnet, on covers central gilt collector’s coat of arms and triple gilt ruled border, gilt spine on 5 raised bands, gilt sides, richly gilt inside dentelles, a.e.g. (over marbl. edges), marbl. endpapers, silk marker. Very good well-preserved copy.

Extr. rare 1st edition of the anonymous adventure novel about Theseus. Set in the times of the Merovingian King Dagobert, the romance recounts the deeds of Theseus of Cologne, son of Floridas (King of Cologne in 632) and Alydone (maiden at the court of Dagobert) as well as his companions Ludovis of France, son of Dagobert, Ludovis’s faithful assistant Assaillant, Count of Dammartin, and Lambert, Count of Anjou. Title and part title within elaborate woodcut border with name and initials of Gilles de Gourmont (d. 1533). 2 very large and 47 smaller woodcuts in text. General title in red and black. Printed in gothic type, in 2 cols. Ref. Bechtel (Gothiques) T-62 - Moreau IV:1156. - Fairfax Murray 536. - BP16 107702. - Essling 225. - Pettegree FB 49204. - STC French (BL) 419. - Not in Adams, Mortimer (Harvard French). Prov. Bibliothèque de Mello, i.e. the collection of Florentin-Achille, baron Seillière, 1813-1873, sold 1887 (lot 1037) (gilt arms on covers). - Robert Hoe [III], 1839-1909, 1st President of the Grolier Club (leather bookpl). - "J.B. Stetson" (pencil note). - S[ylvain] B[runschwig], Swiss lawyer practising in New York, who’s magnificent collection of early French books was sold Geneva 1955 (leather bookpl.). - [Georges Petit].