Medieval from Cole & Contreras

Zyrich (Zurich): Conrad Orell und Comp., 1758-1759. Two volumes bound in one, complete. FIRST EDITION OF THE MANESSISCHE HANDSCHRIFT (also known as the Grosse Heidelberger Liederhandschrift), compiled in the 14th century and far and away the most important collection of medieval German lyric verse. Thus also the FIRST EDITION OF VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE SURVIVING CORPUS OF… Read more about this item

Brixton Hill: For private circulation only (printed by C. and J. Adlard), 1847. FIRST EDITION OF THE ALLITERATIVE MORTE ARTHURE, one of the great monuments of Arthurian literature and of Medieval English literature. This poem, like Gawain and the Green Knight, is part of the late Medieval literary movement now called the "alliterative revival". According to Larry… Read more about this item

Barcelona: Biblioteca Catalana / Miquel Rius, 1932. First critical edition of this important medieval Catalan romance of chivalry long suspected of perhaps being a 19th-century forgery. XLIV, 584 pp. + five extremely fine double-page facsimiles. Printed on fine Guarro laid paper. Facsimiles from the only surviving manuscript. Large 8vo, publisher's goldstamped cloth. ENTIRELY UNCUT,… Read more about this item

Barcelona: Fidel Giró / L'Avenç / Biblioteca Catalana / Miquel Rius, 1914. Three parts in one, complete. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION of this important collection of medieval and later Catalan texts about the afterlife. Printed on fine Guarro laid paper. Facsimiles. Large 8vo, publisher's goldstamped cloth. ENTIRELY UNCUT, FINE, AND BRIGHT. LIKE NEW,… Read more about this item

Barcelona: Imp. Elzeviriana / Biblioteca Catalana / Miquel Rius, 1916. THREE VOLUMES, COMPLETE. First critical edition of this important 15th-century Catalan life of Christ. Printed on fine Guarro laid paper. Facsimiles. Large 8vo, publisher's goldstamped cloth. ENTIRELY UNCUT, FINE, AND BRIGHT. LIKE NEW, IN PERFECT CONDITION.

Barcelona: Imp. Elzeviriana / Biblioteca Catalana / Miquel Rius, 1929-1952. THREE VOLUMES BOUND IN TWO, COMPLETE. First critical edition of this important Renaissance Catalan text. Printed on fine Guarro laid paper. Facsimiles. Large 8vo, publisher's goldstamped cloth. ENTIRELY UNCUT, FINE, AND BRIGHT. LIKE NEW, IN PERFECT CONDITION.

Barcelona: L'Avenç / Biblioteca Catalana / Miquel Rius, 1911. FIRST CRITICAL EDITION of this important Catalan Renaissance text, a translation of the Imitatio Christi by Miquel Pérez. Printed on fine Guarro laid paper. Facsimiles. Large 8vo, publisher's goldstamped cloth. ENTIRELY UNCUT, FINE, AND BRIGHT. LIKE NEW, IN PERFECT CONDITION.

Barcelona: L'Avenç / Biblioteca Catalana / Miquel Rius, 1916. FIRST EDITION of this important medieval Catalan text, a translation of Guido delle Colonne's Latin "Historia destructionis Troiae". Printed on fine Guarro laid paper. Facsimiles. Large 8vo, publisher's goldstamped cloth. ENTIRELY UNCUT, FINE, AND BRIGHT. LIKE NEW, IN PERFECT CONDITION.

Bruxelles (Brussels): Chez Berthot et Périchon, 1836. The first modern edition of the Livre de Baudoyn, printed in 1485. xxxiv pp, blank leaf; 228 pp. ONE OF ONLY 10 LARGE-PAPER COPIES PRINTED 4TO ON GOOD WOVE PAPER. Title-page printed in three colors. 4to. Original printed boards. Board worn; internally clean. Large-paper copies… Read more about this item

Bruxelles (Brussels): Chez Fr.-J. Olivier / Société des Bibliophiles de Belgique, 1869. FIRST EDITION of this important renaissance French poem, along with a contemporary Flemish version. ONE OF ONLY 25 NUMBERED COPIES ISSUED FOR SALE. Printed on fine wove paper. Signed in ink by J. Delecourt, secretary of the Société des Bibliophiles de Belgique. Large… Read more about this item

Paris: Picard / Societe des Anciens Textes Francais, 1982. The third and final (and far and away the most elusive) volume of the Recueil général des Isopets, the first scholarly compilations of the "Isopets", or "Little Aesops", medieval French fabulists who followed the classical tradition. Extensive notes. This third volume is devoted to the fables of Julien… Read more about this item

Bruxelles (Brussels): Victor Devaux, 1867-1869. FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT MEDIEVAL FRENCH PROSE WORK. 521, 3, 400 pp. Printed on extremely fine laid paper, with large margins. This is furthermore AN ASSOCIATION COPY, from the library of DANIEL DEVOTO AND MARIA BEATRIZ DEL VALLE-INCLAN (their stamp on half-titles). Devoto (1916-2001) was an important intellectual figure… Read more about this item

Bourges: A. Jollet, 1868. An erudite study of how the Bonnets Verts, a religious organization, applied civil and criminal justice over the course of many centuries. 2 leaves; II, 59 pp. Large 8vo. Original wraps. Wraps a touch shmutzy, internally uncut, bright, and fine.

Paris: Dumoulin, 1877. ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST IMPORTANT MEDIEVAL FRENCH DRAMATIC WORKS (12th century), here printed with the "Quinze signes du jugement", a contemporary poem about the signs of the coming Apocalypse. 3, XII, 188 pp. EDITION LIMITED TO 220 COPIES, ALL PRINTED ON FINE LAID PAPER. A presentation copy from the editor… Read more about this item

Paris: H. Delloye / Vor Lecou, 1838. FIRST EDITION. Four historical novels by "Le Bibliophile Jacob". 728 pp. 4to. Contemporary quarter calf and decorated boards. A bit of wear to binding, internally clean.

Paris: Adolphe Delahays / Librairie Gauloise, 1858. 131 pp + 12 pp (publisher's catalogue). Printed on fine, thick laid paper. 8vo. Original wraps. Wraps a bit worn, spine split. Internally UNCUT, FINE, AND BRIGHT.

London: Harding and Lepard, 1826. FIRST EDITION of this important publication, one of the pillars of early Anglo-Saxon studies. viii, xcvi, 288 pp. Includes numerous texts in Anglo-Saxon--most appearing here in first edition--accompanied by translations into Latin and English and substantial commentary. A LARGE-PAPER COPY, PRINTED ON FINE LAID PAPER WITH HUGE MARGINS. Engraved… Read more about this item

Paris: J. Techener, 1861. The auction catalogue of the library left by Louis-Jean-Monmerqué at the time of his death. XX, 458 pp. plus an engraved portait of Monmerque. 4229 lots. Monmerque was among the most erudite scholars of his generation, a specialist in the middle ages, and a distinguished bibliophile (a founding member of the… Read more about this item

Paris: Societe des Anciens Textes Francais, 1936. FIRST CRITICAL EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT ROMANCE. Beautifully printed on fine laid paper. Published by the Societe des Anciens Textes Francais. Large 8vo, original cloth. Uncut. FINE AND BRIGHT. Bossuat 1162.

Paris: Franck / Herold, 1862. FIRST EDITION of this Old French chanson de geste. 4 leaves; cxxxv, 364 pp. Published as part of the series "Anciens poetes de la France". Printed on fine laid paper. 12mo in eights. Publisher's cloth. Binding discolored and somewhat warped. Internally clean. Bossuat 379; Cabeen-Holmes… Read more about this item