BILLAUT (Adam). Le Vilebrequin de Me Adam menuisier de Never - Lot 6

BILLAUT (Adam). Le Vilebrequin de Me Adam menuisier de Nevers. Contenant toutes sortes de poêsies gallantes, tant en sonnets, épistres, épigrammes, élégies, madrigaux, que stances & autres pièces, autant curieuses que divertissantes, sur toutes sortes de sujets. Paris, Guillaume de Luyne, 1663. In-12, red morocco, ornate spine, framed with 3 gilt wires on the boards, inner tooth, gilt on marbling (Hardy-Mesnil). ORIGINAL EDITION of the famous poet-carpenter's masterpiece, with numerous woodcut typographical ornaments. The preface and dedication to Gaston d'Orléans, one of Billaut's patrons, are signed by Augustin-François Berthier, a Nivernais poet and friend of the author, who claimed to be his adopted son. The collection includes a variety of verse pieces dedicated to leading figures at the court of Louis XIV: Mazarin, Richelieu, Bussy-Rabutin, the great Condé, the Duchesse de Longueville, the Princesse Palatine. The privilege granted on November 22, 1662 followed the author's death on June 19 by a few months. Adam Billaut (1602-1662) was one of the first poètes ouvriers; Les chevilles de Maître Adam appeared in 1644 to great critical acclaim. Billaut became a protégé of the Prince de Condé, was pensioned by Richelieu and admired by his peers. If his poetry lacks elegance, in a century that was full of it, his language His language is full of verve and originality, and his collections make him one of the very first poets of the 17th century, one of those whose language is still appreciated, devoid of affectation and useless ornamentation. A FINE COPY, VERY PURE AND LARGE MAR GES. Brunet (I, 46); Lachèvre (II, 155).