Beschreibung:

Phalaridis. [Epistolae] Le bellissime è sententiose lettere di Falari prencipe d'Agrigento in Sicilia, di nuouo tradotte dalla greca nella fauella toscana. Venice: Venturino Ruffinelli for Curzio Troiano Navò, 1545
First printing of Francesco Sansovino’s edition of the letters attributed to Phalaris, a tyrant of Acragas (Agrigento) in Sicily (6th century BCE), based on Bartolomeo della Fonte’s translation (1499) of Francesco Accolti’s Latin version (1471).
This copy was bound for Jean Brinon (ca. 1520–1555), son and sole heir of Jean I Brinon (d. 1528), seigneur de Villennes, 1er Président au Parlement de Rouen. After his father’s death, Jean had been placed in the charge of Nicolas Séguier, seigneur de Saint-Cyr, and Maître des comptes, who appointed Loys Chesneau (d. 1572, known as Ludovicus Querculus), afterwards principal of the Collège de Tours, as the boy’s tutor. From Chesneau he perhaps acquired the love of poetry which he later indulged at his château at Médan, showering gifts and hospitality on poets and intellectuals, particularly members of the Pléiade, and exhausting his inheritance. By 1553, Brinon was in dire financial straits, obliged to cede by notarial contract part of his fortune to the Cardinal de Lorraine. His library was dispersed under unknown circumstances: one volume (no. 1, below) was acquired in 1567 by the Parisian bibliophile Jacques Malenfant, seigneur de Preyssac (ca. 1530–ca. 1603), another (no. 19) was in Leiden in the possession of the poet and diplomat Daniel Rogers (ca. 1538–1591).
Some twenty-seven volumes from Brinon’s library are known, all printed books with the exception of a fourteenth-century manuscript Roman de la Rose. Five volumes from Brinon’s library were listed by Anthony Hobson, French and Italian Collectors and their Bindings Illustrated from Examples in the Library of J.R. Abbey (Oxford, 1953), pp. 24–27, 181; six were counted by Geneviève Guilleminot, in Ronsard: la trompette et la lyre (Paris, 1985), p. 46, no. 30; and the most recent census mentions thirteen volumes: Laurent Guillo, Jean-Michel Noailly, Pierre Pidoux, “Un recueil parisien de psaumes, de chansons spirituelles et de motets (ca. 1565): Genève BGE Ms. Mus. 572,” in Bulletin de la Société de l'histoire du protestantisme français 158 (2012), pp. 199–233.
The books are dated 1498 to 1555; about half were printed at Basel, the others mostly at Paris and Venice. Most are classical texts, or commentaries on them: Aristophanes, Collouthos, Euripides, Homerus, Orpheus, Publius Ovidius Naso, Phalaridis, Plautus, Sextus Placitus, Sidonius Apollonaris, Theocritus, Publius Vergilius Maro; Arsenios’s scholia on Euripides, Johannes Oporinus’s edition of Vergil’s Bucolics, Pomponius Laetus’s commentary on Vergilius, Veit Winsheim’s commentary on Sophocles. Brinon owned volumes of neo-Latin poetry by Pietro Apollonio Collazio (in Jean de Gaigny’s edition), Jean Second, Pierre Lottich, and the poet laureate Kaspar Ursinus; two volumes on chronology, by Johann von Tritheim and Michael Buether; Giraldi’s work on classical mythology; Huttich’s coin book; and works on botany by Charles Estienne and Pierre Belon. The volume in the Bibliotheca Brookeriana, Francesco Sansovino’s edition of the Epistles of Phalaris, is the only surviving book from Brinon’s library in the Italian language.
Jean Brinon experimented with three ways of showing his personal ownership of a book. On a single binding (no. 7), bound in Paris about 1538, by Jean Picard, in brown calf, the genitive of his Latinized name plus “et amicorum” is tooled in gilt on both covers. This practice, introduced in France by Jean Grolier, was then confined to a few bibliophiles who bought their bindings in Paris (see G. D. Hobson, “Et amicorum” in The Library 4 (1949), pp. 87–99).
On another binding (no. 5), bound in Paris after 1546, in brown morocco, his motto “Espoir me tormente” is lettered on both covers. Brinon’s preferred way of proclaiming his ownership, used on 23 recorded bindings, is more explicit. On the upper covers of these bindings, all in brown calf over pasteboards, tooled in blind and gold to a panel design, the centers are occupied by a circular armorial stamp incorporating Brinon’s name and the title “Conseiller du Roi au Parlement de Paris” conferred on him in 1544. In the centers of the lower covers is another circular stamp, containing his motto “Espoir me tormente” and a complex monogram (the motto and monogram are impressed from individual stamps). Once again Brinon was among the avant garde, as few collectors were then using an armorial stamp to mark their bindings.
Three pairs of dies were made, each pair with variations in the lettering, rendition of the family arms (D’azur, au chevron d’or au chef endenté d’or), and monogram. The first pair has lettered on the upper cover, “I · BRINON · SR · DE VILLAINES · CONSEIL · DV · ROY ·” (OHR 125 no. 1); and on the lower cover, “ESPOIR [ornament] ME [ornament] TORMENTE” and monogram (OHR 125 no. 2).
The second pair has lettered on the upper cover, “I · BRINON · SR · DE · VILLAINES · CONSEIL · DV · ROY · ✠” (OHR 125 Pl. 125 no. 3); and on the lower cover, “· ESPOIR · ME · TORMENTE ·” and monogram (OHR Pl. 125 no. 4).
The third pair has lettered on the upper cover, “I · BRINON · SR · DE · VILLAINES · CŌSEIL · DV · ROY ·” (not recorded by OHR); and on the lower cover, “ESPOIR [ornament] ME [ornament] TORMENTE” and monogram (not recorded by OHR).
The Phalaridis in the Bibliotheca Brookeriana is decorated with the pair of dies in most common use (eight similarly bound volumes are known; the other dies are known by five and two volumes respectively; the pair used on seven bindings is not known). As usual, the monogram is repeated in the four corners of both covers of the Phalaridis, with the title (Lettere Di Falari.) lettered at the head of the upper cover only (on some bindings, the title flanks the medallion stamps on both covers).
Bound for Jean II Brinon
(1) Aristophanes, Comoediae novem [in Greek] (Venice: Aldo Manuzio, 1498). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 3). — Jacques Malenfant (ca 1530-ca 1603), supralibros, letters “I M T” (Iacobus Malinfantivs Tolosanus) placed beside Brinon’s stamp, inscription “Ek tōn bibliōn Iakōbo tou Malinphantiou Tolōsanou en Loutekia 1567” — John Newcome (1684?-1765), bequeathed 1765 — Cambridge, St John's College, Upper Library, Ii.1.22.Guillo, op. cit., pp.17, 20.
(2) Arsenios, Scholia in septem Euripidis tragoedias ex antiquis exemplarib. ab Arsenio archiepiscopo Monembasiae collecta (Basel: Johannes Herwagen, 1544). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, dies not known). — Librairie Théophile Belin, Catalogue 302: Beaux livres anciens reliés en maroquin avec armoiries, (Paris, 1907), item 2846 (FF25). Current location not traced.
(3) Pierre Belon, De arboribus coniferis, resiniferis, aliis quoque nonnullis sempiterna fronde virentibus (Paris: Benoît Prévost, 1553). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, die not known). — Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland (1675–1722; Catalogue of the Books in the Library at Blenheim Palace, collected by Charles, third Earl of Sunderland [Oxford, 1872], p. 56; Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Bibliotheca Sunderlandiana: Sale Catalogue of the Truly Important and Very Extensive Library of Printed Books known as the Sunderland or Blenheim library. The first portion, London, 1–12 December 1881, lot 1154), purchased by — Banting (£8 10s). Current location not traced.
(4) Michael Beuther, Ephemeris historica. Ejusdem, de annorum mundi concinna dispositione, libellus (Paris: Michel Fezandat & Robert Granjon, 1551). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 2). Aix-en-Provence, Bibliothèque Méjanes, Rés D 0445.Guillo, op. cit., p.230; Jean-Marc Chatelain, Le Marquis de Méjanes Bibliophile - Exposition virtuelle, no. 55 (online).
(5) [Bucolica], En habes lector bucolicorum autores xxxviij. quotquot uidelicet à Vergilij ætate ad nostra usque tempora (Basel: Johann Oporinus, 1546). Jean II Brinon (motto “Espoyr me tormente” on both covers, without name or initials). — Jean Ballesdens, with his signature and S fermé on title-page — Ch. Charott (18C?) — A. Rosenthal, Oxford (1949) — Albert Ehrman (1890-1969) — Oxford, Bodleian Library, Broxb. 24.14.Hobson, op. cit., 1953, p.26; Howard Nixon, Broxbourne Library: Styles and designs of bookbindings, from the 12th to the 20th century (London 1956), no. 28.
(6) Pietro Apollonio Collazio, Excidii Jerosolymitani libri IIII. Nunc primum Joannis Gagnaeii … opera ac studio in lucem editi (Paris: Nicolas Le Riche & Jean Loys, 1540). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 1). Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, RES PYC-956.Guilleminot, op. cit., p.46 no. 30; Hobson & Culot, op. cit., p.93; Guillo, op. cit., p.229.
(7) Charles Estienne, De re hortensi libellus (Paris: Robert Estienne, 6 April 1536), bound with: Charles Estienne, Seminarium sive plantarum (Paris: Robert Estienne, 12 July 1536), bound with: Charles Estienne, Vinetum, in quo varia vitium, uvarum, vinorum, antiqua, latina vulgariáque nomina item ea quae ad vitium consitionem ac culturam ab antiquis rei rusticae scriptoribus expressa (Paris: François Estienne, 1537), bound with: Charles Estienne, Arbustum. Fonticulus. Spinetum (Paris: François Estienne, 1538), bound with: Charles Estienne, Sylva. Frutetum. Collis (Paris: François Estienne, 1538). Jean II Brinon (lettered on upper covers “Io. Brinonii Et. Amicorum,” without arms or motto). — unidentified owner, inscribed “Dieu me charge ou m'allège” (Scheler) — Lucien Scheler, Paris (?) — John Roland Abbey (1894-1969), bought 1947 — Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable printed books and fine bindings from the celebrated collection; the property of Major J.R. Abbey, London, 21-23 June 1965, lot 318 (“bound by the Entrelac Binder”) — Bernard Quaritch, London - bought in sale (£340) — Henry Davis (1897-1977) — London, British Library, Henry Davis Gift 350.Lucien Scheler, “Jean de Brinon, bibliophile” in Bibliothèque d'humanisme et de la Renaissance 11 (1949), pp.215-218; Hobson, op. cit., 1953, no. 10 (as bound by Étienne Roffet); Nixon, op. cit., p.61 (“very like some of the bindings executed by Roffet for Jean Grolier”); Mirjam Foot, The Henry Davis Gift: A Collection of bookbindings, volume 3: A Catalogue of South-European bindings (London 2010), no. 23 (“Paris binding by Jean Picard”).
(8) Charles Estienne, Praedium rusticum (Paris: Charles Estienne, 1554). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 1). De Baecque & Associés, Incunables et impressions du XVIe siècle, Lyon, 28 March 2019, lot 146. Current location not traced.
(9) Euripides, Euripidu tragodiai oktokaideka. Hekabe tragoediae octodecim. Hecuba (Basel: Johannes Herwagen, 1544). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 1). — unidentified owner, inscription “Present de Jan Brinon” (Scheler) — Théodore Goiffeux (d. 1822) — unidentified owner, inscription subscribed “C.R.” (Beinecke OPAC) — E.P. Goldschmidt, London (Grolier Club, E.P. Goldschmidt & Co., Financial records, 1919-1981, Stock Books, Box 1/1 (1921-1923), #1182, sold 14 April 1523 to:) — Laure Eugénie Belin (née Pillet); René Boisgirard & Louis Giraud-Badin with Charles Bosse, Bibliothèque de Mme Th. Belin. Troisième partie, Paris, 9-10 March 1937, lot 581 — Lucien Scheler, Paris — New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Library, BEIN Gfe86 a537b.Scheler, op. cit., p.216; Guillo, op. cit., p.20.
(10) Giglio Gregorio Giraldi, De deis gentium varia & multiplex historia (Basel: Johann Oporinus, 1548) — Jean II Brinon (supralibros, dies not known). — François, comte Chandon de Briailles (1892-1953); Maurice Rheims & Jacqueline Vidal-Mégret, Bibliothèque de M. le comte C. de X… Première partie: Précieuses reliures armoriées ou ornées des XVIe ou XVIIe siècles, manuscrits, Paris, 2-3 December 1954, lot 127 — unidentified owner - bought in sale (FF 8500) — Sotheby's, London, 17–18 July 1967, lot 241, purchased by — Alan Thomas, London (£8). Current location not traced.
(11) Homerus, Opus utrumque homeri iliados et odysseae, diligenti opera Jacobi mycilli & Joachimi camerarii recognitum (Basel: Johann Herwagen, 1541). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, dies not known) — Mostyn, family library, Flintshire, Wales — Llewelyn Nevill Vaughan Lloyd-Mostyn, Baron Mostyn (1856–1929; Sotheby's, London, 16 April 1920, lot 193), purchased by — Tregaskis, London (£7 10s). Current location not traced.
(12) Johann Huttich, Imperatorum et Caesarum vitae cum imaginibus ad vivam effigiem expressis (Lyon, Balthazar Arnoullet, 1550). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 2). Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Rés 8° 32530.Guillo, op. cit., p.230.
(13) Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoseos libri quindecim, cum commentariis raphaelis regii (Basel: Johannes Herwagen, 1543). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 2). Poitiers, Médiathèque François-Mitterrand, BR 125.Guillo, op. cit., p.230.
(14) Publius Ovidius Naso, Fastorum libri VI. Tristium V. De ponto IIII. In ibin. Cum commetariis doctiss. Virorum (Basel: Johannes Herwagen, 1550). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, dies not known). Poitiers, Médiathèque François-Mitterrand, B 932.
(15) Phalaridis, Epistolae, Le bellissime è sententiose lettere di Falari prencipe d'Agrigento in Sicilia, di nuouo tradotte dalla greca nella fauella toscana (Venice: Venturino Ruffinelli for Curzio Troiano Navò, 1545). The volume offered.
(16) Titus Maccius Plautus, Comoediae XX. Diligente cura, & singulari studio Joachimi camerarii Pabeperg (Basel: Johannes Herwagen, [1552]). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, dies not known). Jérôme-Frederic, baron Pichon (1812-1896) — Maurice Deslestre & Henri Leclerc with P. Cornuau, Catalogue de la bibliothèque de feu M. le baron Jérome Pichon. Première partie, Paris, lot 933 — François, comte Chandon de Briailles (1892–1953; Maurice Rheims & Jacqueline Vidal-Mégret, Paris, Bibliothèque de M. le comte C. de X …, 2–3 December 1954, lot 254), purchased by — unidentified owner (FF 12,000). Current location not traced.
(17) Julius Pomponius Laetus, Ivlii Pomponii Sabini Grammatici eruditissimi, in omnia quae quidem extant, p. Vergilii maronis opera, commentarii, varia multarum rerum cognitione referti, nuncque primum in lucem editi (Basel, [Johann Oporinus, 1544]). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 1). Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, RES P-YC-477.Hobson & Culot, op. cit., p.93; Guillo, op. cit, p.229.
(18) Jean Second, Opera nunc primum in lucem edita (Utrecht: Herman I van Borculo, 1541), bound with: Petrus Lotichius, Elegiarum liber. Eiusdem carminum libellus (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1551). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 1). unidentified owner, inscription: “Ex dono C. D. Hieronymi Luillerij” (CCFr OPAC) — inkstamp, “Ecole Sainte Geneviève - B.D.J.” — Lyon, Bibliothèque municipale, SJ X 433/108, 1–2.
(19) Sidonius Apollinaris, Lucubrationes, liberalium literarum studiosis cognoscendae & iterum atque iterum repetende item Joannis Baptistae pii commentaria (Basel: Heinrich Petri, March 1542). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 3). Daniel Rogers (1538?-1591) — Henry Godolphin (1648-1733), donation inscription, 1731 — Eton, Eton College, Fh.4.05.Robert Birley, The History of Eton College Library (Eton 1970), pp.36, 75.
(20) Sophocles, Interpretatio tragoediarum sophoclis ad utilitatem juventutis quae studiosa est Graecae linguae edita a vito vvinshemio (Frankfurt am Main: Peter Braubach, 1549). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 2). — Joannet Chaumolne, 1628 — John Roland Abbey (1894–1969; Sotheby's, London, 19–21 June 1967, lot 2170), purchased by — Georges Heilbrun, Paris (£340). Current location not traced.Hobson, op. cit., 1953, no. 11; Guillo, op. cit., p.230.
(21) Theocritus, Theokritou Boukolika (Florence: Filippo I Giunta, 10 January 1515). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 1). — Thomas Grenville (1755-1846) — London, British Library, G 17242.Nixon, op. cit., p.61; Guillo, op. cit., p.229.
(22) Theocritus, Idyllia trigintasex, recens è Graeco in Latinum, ad verbum translate ([Bern]: Samuel Apiarius for Johann Oporinus of Basel, September 1554), bound with: Orpheus, Opera, iam primum ad verbum translata, & diligentius quàm antea multis in locis emendata (Basel: Johannes Oporinus, February 1555), bound with: Colluthus Lycopolitanus, Coluthi thebani lycopolitani poetae, helenae raptus, per renatum perdrierium Parisiensem ad verbum translatus (Basel: Johannes Oporinus, February 1555). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, dies not known. — Sydney Richardson Christie-Miller (1874–1931; Sotheby’s, London, Catalogue of a further selection of rare & valuable works … from the renowned library formerly at Britwell Court, Burnham, Bucks. The property of S.R. Christie-Miller, London, 15-18 March 1926, lot 709 — Sotheby’s, London, 2–4 March 1931, lot 658, purchased by — Brymer (£1 10s). Current location not traced.
(23) Johannes Trithemius, De Septem Secundeis, id est, intelligentiis, sive spiritibus orbes post deum mouentibus, reconditissimae scientiae et eruditionis libellus (Frankfurt am Main: Cyriacus Jacob, 1545), bound with: Sextus Placitus, Contenta in hoc opere. Sextus philosophus platonicus de medicina animalium bestiarum, pecobum, et avium (Zürich: Christoph Froschauer, 1539). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 2). Lyon, Bibliothèque municipale, Rés 357273.Guillo, op. cit., p.230.
(24) Caspar Ursinus Velius, Poematum libri quinque (Basel: Johann Froben, 1522). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair #1). Kórnik, Biblioteka Kórnicka, Cim.Qu.2919.
(25) Publius Vergilius Maro, Virgil, P. Vergilii Maronis Opera accuratissime nunc demum recognita (Venice: Giovanni Antonio Nicolini da Sabbio & Federico Torresano, 1539). Jean II Brinon (supralibros, pair 1). Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, RES P-YC-421.Eugène Olivier, Georges Hermal & Robert de Roton, Manuel de l'amateur de reliures armoriées françaises (Paris 1924-1938), Pl. 125 (fers 1, 2); Scheler, op. cit., p.216; Guillo, op. cit., p.229.
(26) Manuscript “Roman de la Rose”, ca. 1360–1380, on vellum with miniatures, in a binding with the arms of Charles IX. Jean II Brinon (?) — Aimar de Ranconnet (1490?–1559), inscription “Ce Roman de la Roze a esté achapté de l'inventaire de feu maistre Jehan Brinon, seigneur de Villennes, par moy. De Ranconnet” — Charles IX, King of France (r. 1560–1574; supralibros) — Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ms. Fr. 800.Leopold Delisle, Cabinet des manuscrits de la Bibliothèque impériale (Paris 1868), p.190; Philippe Tamizey de Larroque, “Un grand homme oublié Le Président de Ranconnet” in Revue des questions historiques 10 (1871), pp.230-245 (p.237); Ernest Langlois, Les Manuscrits du Roman de la Rose (Lille & Paris 1910), pp.7-8; Isabelle De Conihout, “Les bibliophiles avant la bibliophilie (XVIe -XVIIe siècles)” in Revue d'Histoire littéraire de la France 115 (2015), pp.49-72 (p.52)
(27) Giovanni Boccaccio, Le philocope (Paris: Charles L'Angelier, 1555). Jean II Brinon (?) — Alde, Livres anciens du XVe au XIXe siècle, Paris, 24 February 2017, lot 8 (“Belle reliure à entrelacs de cire peinte ornée d'un fer aux trois croissants de lune entrelacés,” “Le nom De Villaines figure dans deux ex-libris manuscrits différents – l'un en capitales romaines, l'autre en cursives bâtardes – inscrits sur le titre et le second contreplat du volume. Il pourrait s'agir, sans certitude, d'une marque de provenance du célèbre bibliophile Jean II Brinon (†1555), seigneur de Villaines”). Current location not traced.
8vo (152 x 95 mm). Italic type, 29 lines. collation: A–I8: 72 leaves. Woodcut printer's device on title-page, 3-line initial spaces with guide letters. (Some soiling, chiefly marginal, B1 loose.)
binding: Parisian brown calf (156 x 101 mm), ca. 1545, for Jean II Brinon, gilt fillet around sides, frame of double gilt fillets with his cipher at outer angles, central gilt roundel lettered BRINON · S · DE VILLAINES · CONSEIL · DV · ROY and containing his arms, spine with 5 full and 2 half bands, gilt sprig with 3 leaves in compartments, edges gilt. (Corners, joints, and spine-ends restored.) Russet buckram folding-case. 
provenance: Jean II Brinon (armorial supralibros, pair 1; OHR 125) — Henrietta Louisa Fermor, Countess of Pomfret (1698–1761, armorial exlibris, printed in sepia, lettered “The R.t Hon.ble Henrietta, Countess of Pomfret, Lady of the Bed Chamber to Queen” with motto [in Latin & Welsh], engraved by Samuel Wale), by descent to — her granddaughter, Sophia Petty, Countess of Shelburne (1745–1771), wife of William Petty, Earl of Shelburne, afterwards 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (1737–1805; Leigh & S. Sotheby, Bibliotheca Lansdowniana. Part II, London, 30 April–5 May 1806, lot 88), purchased by — Richard Heber (1773–1833), (6s) — Charles John Shoppee (1824–1897; exlibris), by descent to — Charles Herbert Shoppee (1852–1917) — H. P. Kraus, New York (Catalogue 111, [1965], item 85 & Pl. 26, $1,250) — Gunder Nordbäck (1903–1983; exlibris; Sotheby’s, London, 26–27 May 1983, lot 507), purchased by — Patrick King Rare Books, Stony Stratford (£600) — Michel Wittock (1936–2020; Christie's Paris, 7 October 2005, lot 37). acquisition: Purchased at the Wittock sale through Robin Halwas. 
references: Edit16 31545; USTC 762253; for the binding, see Lindberg, Reliures royales et précieuses dans la collection du Dr Gunder Nordbäck (Zurich, 1975), pp. 24–25 no. 46; A. Hobson & Culot, Italian and French 16th-Century Bookbindings [in Bibliotheca Wittockiana] (Brussels, 1991), no. 37.