Martinus [Strepus].

La Cronique Martiniane De Tous Les Papes Qui Furent Iamais Et Finist Iusques Au Pape Alexa[N]Dre Derrenier Decede Mil Cinq Cens Et Trios, Et Avecques Ce Les Additio[N]S De Plusiers Croniqueurs

      [? Couteau for] A. Verard, [, c. 1503]. FIRST EDITION. 2 vols, folio. ff. (vi) CLXXXII; (viii) CCLI-CCCCII [but complete, cf. Brunet]. Double column, lettre Bâtarde. Vol I: Rubricated, 4, 6, and 8 line initials in red and red and blue, pages ruled in red, pretty woodcut initials, many white on black in several series, intricate anthropomorphic woodcut initial 'L' on title. Narrow oil stain affecting margins of two leaves and text of last leaf, a few minor repairs to gutters not affecting text, the odd oil spot. Vol II: Calligraphic and anthropomorphic initials in several styles, large woodcut printer's device at end. Title in 19th century excellent printed facsimile, subsequent leaf very slightly browned with neat old repair to outer margin not touching text, four leaves with repairs at gutter, last leaf laid down and outer margin restored, the odd minor or marginal spot, occasional very small wormtracks (just touching one or two letters of text), light small marginal dampstain, two leaves at end repaired at foredge. Very good clean, wide margined copies, vol II even a little wider, in matching French crushed olive morocco richly gilt, MOST PROBABLY A VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE WORK OF FLORIMOND BADIER, c. 1620, covers and spines with repeating geometric pattern of gilt swirls and sequins, within gilt-tooled frames, fleurons at corners, spines in seven compartments, lettered in two, a.e.g. Minor repairs at head and foot of spines and some corners, one sympathetic repair to small lack in lower corner of upper cover of vol II. Vol I: 'A Claude Fauchet' in C16th hand in upper blank margin of title, 'Claude de montperlier Marie guiot' in early C17th hand in blank portion below, 'DAVAUCOURT' [i.e. d'Avaugourt, Duke of Brittany] giltstamped on binding of both volumes, their 17th (? ) century ownership stamp with monogram and coronet on t-p., early 19th-c bookseller's notes on fly, tiny stamped monogram (c1900) in lower blank portion of title, Early 19th-c silvered armorial label 'J.G. ' inside upper cover. Vol...