Publisher: Lugduni Batavorum (Leiden): Ex officina Elzeviriana, 1629.
Illustration: Engraved allegorical title-page with portrait medallion, allegorical figures, and royal arms of France.
Edition: Elzevir edition, 1629 — one of the earliest issues in the celebrated Respublicae (“Republics”) series.
Binding: Contemporary limp vellum with yapp edges, spine neatly titled in ink Descriptio Galliae. Vellum lightly soiled, mellowed to an attractive even tone. A strong, appealing survival in its original binding.
Description: A rare early Elzevir “Republics” volume, Gallia sive de Francorum regis dominiis et opibus commentarius (1629), providing a compact yet authoritative description of the dominions, wealth, provinces, and noble families of the French crown. This is the first Elzevir edition, preceding the 1639 issue, and among the earliest entries in the publisher’s renowned Respublicae series.
The engraved allegorical title-page is a highlight: curtains part to reveal a bust portrait of a French nobleman flanked by two classical female figures, with the arms of France displayed below. This emblematic frontispiece, crisp and finely executed, reflects the sophistication of Elzevir engraving at its height.
Inside, the text functions as a concise political geography and genealogical handbook. It surveys the provinces of France, lists its great noble families (such as the d’Albrets, La Rochefoucaulds, d’Etampes, and others), and records the wealth and dominion of the Bourbon monarchy. For diplomats, scholars, and statesmen of the 17th century, such a portable reference was indispensable, part of the wider European appetite for systematic surveys of states that foreshadowed modern political science.
The binding, in original limp vellum, is remarkably well-preserved, with clean vellum and neatly inked spine title. Its pocket size and portable format make it an attractive example of the Elzevir aesthetic: clarity, elegance, and usability. These small-format “Republics” became instantly popular across Europe and remain highly sought by collectors today.
This 1629 issue is especially desirable as the earliest Elzevir printing of Gallia, predating later versions by a decade, and representing the first attempt by the press to codify France’s political and aristocratic structure into a handy reference. A highly collectible Elzevir imprint, combining rarity, condition, and subject interest.
Condition: Very Good. Contemporary limp vellum, lightly soiled but clean and square. Spine neatly titled. Engraved title crisp with only faint toning at lower margin. Textblock complete and clean, with minimal signs of wear. An unusually well-preserved example.
Annotation: Engraved title-page with arms of France and allegorical figures; contemporary ink spine title Descriptio Galliae; occasional reader marks in margins.
Item #113
Price:
$1,250.00
