Beschreibung:

TURPIN, FRANÇOIS HENRI, Archbishop of Reims ( attributed to ). Chronique et histoire... Contenant les prouesses et faictz darmes...du tres magnanime Roy Charles le gra(n)t, autreme(n)t dit Charlemaigne: et de son nepveu Raoula(n)d. Paris: Pierre Vidoue for Regnault Chauldiere, 8 June 1527. 4to, 209 x 151 mm. (8 1/4 x 6 in.), dark brown straight-grained morocco, covers with triple gilt fillet border, small fleur-de-lys at angles, spine gilt in six compartments, turn-ins gilt, crimson morocco doublures with gilt interlacing strapwork design, g.e., by KOEHLER, joints and extremities rubbed, light ink markings to initial on m2r . Bâtarde type, title in a third state not described by Moreae (with "e s" in line 4 corrected to "les" but with "Raoula(n)d" in line 10 uncorrected), printed within six-part woodcut ornamental border, 12-line and smaller woodcut initials, most with gamboling putti, a few floral initials on a criblé ground, o4 blank present. FIRST EDITION of this sixteenth-century adaptation of one of the later poems of the French Charlemagne-cycle, erroneously attributed to Turpin, archbishop of Reims from 753 to 800. The original chronicle, an entirely fictitious account of Charlemagne's exploits in Spain, was primarily intented as authentication of the relics of St. James of Compostella, and was probably the work of a 12th century cleric. The unknown translator/author of the present French version of the chronicle confesses in his dedication to François I that the manuscript copy that he was obliged to use was extremely old and worn (" si fort vieil et assaire "); and his text embroiders freely on the original tale, making of it "un véritable roman de chevalerie"--Brunet V, 980-81; Adams T-1164; Fairfax-Murray French 554; Moreau III, 1344; Rothschild II, 1485. Provenance : "Pomaret 1593 Decemb 13", inscription below colophon -- Aimé Martin, ownership inscription on front flyleaf -- Robert Samuel Turner inscription on front flyleaf (sale, Paris, 12-16 March 1878, lot 435).