Oeuvres poetiques de Pierre de Brach, Sieur de la Motte Montussan (including Oeuvres Inedites)

Two volumes, complete. AN OUTSTANDING ASSOCIATION COPY, EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH SPECIAL PLATES, OF THE FIRST AND ONLY COMPLETE EDITION, and first and only critical edition, of the works of Pierre de Brach, an important 16th-century poet from Bordeaux, a close friend of Montaigne and many other key French Renaissance literary figures. ABOUT HALF THE WORKS ARE PUBLISHED HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME: Dezeimeris (1835-1913) had discovered an important manuscript which included many texts thought lost forever, including the "Tombeau et regrets funebres sur la mort d'Aymee" and the second book of the "Amours". Extensive scholarly apparatus, notes, and index. Edition limited to 260 copies, of which this is ONE OF 40 COPIES BEAUTIFULLY PRINTED (by Gounouilhou of Bordeaux) ON FINE WHITE WOVE PAPER, with numerous woodcut ornaments, headpieces, and tailpieces. Title-pages printed in red and black, with large woodcut printer's device. Text in Italic type, notes in Roman type. Two engraved portraits on Chinese paper and several other plates. WITH A SIGNED PRESENTATION INSCRIPTION FROM DEZEIMERIS TO FRANCOIS DEFREMERY (1822-1883) OF THE ACADEMIE FRANCAISE. Bound in are FOUR AUTOGRAPH LETTERS (and an inscribed visiting card) from Dezeimeris to Defremery, dated from October 1878 to February 1879, discussing this work and Dezeimeris' election to the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. Dezeimeris was elected in late December 1878, and in the earlier letters we can see how he marshals his forces and asks Defremery for assistance. Dezeimeris mentions that HE HAS ADDED A FEW RELEVANT PLATES TO THIS SET WHICH ARE WHICH WERE NOT PUBLISHED WITH IT AND THUS ARE NOT FOUND IN OTHER COPIES. After Defremery's death this set passed into the hands of noted bibliophile Philippe-Louis de Bordes de Fortage (his engraved bookplates). His collection was auctioned from 1924 to 1927. 4to. Attractively bound in contemporary quarter morocco and decorated boards. Top edge gilt, other edges uncut. Light wear to bindings, a little bit of faint foxing, else a fine set with an excellent provenance. Vicaire I, 919; Brunet supp., 167: "Belle publication." Viollet le Duc (I, 333): "C'etait un ecrivain correct, un versificateur elegant et harmonieux, bien superieur sous ce rapport a tous les poetes ses contemporains. On peut lui reprocher de manquer de la verve et de l'entrainement de Ronsard, par exemple; mais comme forme de langage, c'est un auteur des plus remarquables et assurement digne d'etre etudie. A rare set, with a terrific provenance.