A GENERAL INVENTORIE OF THE HISTORY OF FRANCE, From the Beginning of that Monarchie, unto the Treatie of Vervins, in the yeare 1598. And continued unto these Times out off the best Authors which have written of that Subject, Translated out of French into English, by Edward Grimeston Gentleman.

[France]; Serres John [Jean] de

Edité par London Imprinted at London by George Eld 1607

A propos de cet article

Rare First Edition in English. Well illustrated with large pictorial engravings for every chapter and every King of France considered by the author, fine engraved head- and tail-pieces throughout, beautifully engraved and historiated initial six-line letters to each chapter, the letters to the preliminary leaves running 8 to 9 lines. Folio, 12.75 x 8.25", bound in three-quarter antique calf over marbled paper covered boards, the spine with raised bands gilt ruled, morocco lettering piece gilt in one compartment. [xviii], 1052, [24 The Table] pp. A complete copy of this scarce work A very solid copy, the binding in very good condition with some expected rubbing at the extremities caused mainly by shelving, the text crisp, clean and unpressed. Some evidence of age as to be expected. A rare survival very well preserved. RARE FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH, BY THE "HISTORIAN OF FRANCE" APPOINTED BY KING HENRY IV. Joannes Serranus; 1540 1598) employed by the king, both in France and abroad, to attempt to bring about a rapprochement between the warring religious sects in France was himself a refugee from religious persecution. Serres studied at Lausanne in Switzerland and taught Latin there. In 1578 he was made rector of the Academy of Nimes and was also involved in the establishment of a printing press there. He became a Calvinist pastor, humanist, poet, polemicist, and diplomat. His complete translation of Plato appeared in the famous 1578 edition published by Henri Estienne, which is the source of the standard 'Stephanus numbers' still used by scholars to refer to Plato's works. In 1596, de Serres was appointed 'Historian of France' by King Henry IV. His posthumously published History of France as offered here, was an 'immense success' and was not superseded for almost a century. This is one of his great works which discusses the reigns of every French King, beginning with Paramond in 420 A.D. through Henry IV in 1604. Inventaire de l'Histoire de France was written while he was working as historian to the king, and was frequently reprinted with additions. By 1624, the work was renamed A Generall Historie of France. According to Dardier, 'The success of the Inventaire was immense, and it was deserved. For the first time, the facts were presented in chronological order, clearly and methodically." Dardier, Jean de Serres, Revue historique.1883.

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Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: A GENERAL INVENTORIE OF THE HISTORY OF FRANCE, From the Beginning of that Monarchie, unto the Treatie of Vervins, in the yeare 1598. And continued unto these Times out off the best Authors which have written of that Subject, Translated out of French into English, by Edward Grimeston Gentleman.
• Éditeur: London Imprinted at London by George Eld 1607
• Reliure: Couverture souple