Louis XIV and Pope Urban VIII - Semaine Sainte, red morocco binding by "Atelier des Caumartin" - 1670

RARE 1670 Office de la Semaine Sainte (The Office of Holy Week) with an amazing "à la fanfare" binding, with 1 fleurs-de-lis indicating its origins in the court of Louis XIV (The Sun King), and stamped in each compartment of the spine. The tools used to decorate the binding are unique to the late 17th century French bindery identified as "Atelier des Caumartin", who did work that has been found in a variety of royal libraries. This is a wonderful printing of the Office de la Semaine Sainte, printed around 1670 by Charles Fosset and Denis Chenault, and illustrated with five full-page detailed illustrations. A fine example adorned with an engraved title depicting a young King Louis XIV kneeling before Christ taken down from the cross, and 4 plates outside the text designed by M. Lefèbure and engraved by C. Fosset. Original Burgundy-red Morocco binding, richly tooled in gilt in a fanfare binding using a combination of shaped, fillet, and pointelle tools. Tools attributable to the binder Caumartin (see Lawrence A. Miller's list of the the Caumartin tools; easy to identify). Including the prominent French fleur-de-lis often found in the spine compartments of Louis XIV-era royal bindings, as per the first photo in this book.

LITERATURE/REFERENCES; According to data from Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), and Jean-Dominique Mellot: Répertoire d'imprimeurs / libraires (2004), No. 2049, the printer/publisher Charles Fosset worked in Paris from 1661 to 1695, his widow until 1697.

ORIGINAL 1670 edition of the Divine Office for Holy Week, corrected by the command of the king Louis XIV, and in accordance with the Breviary & Missal of Pope Urban VIII. The Holy Week offices (liturgies) lead worshipers through the events of the final days before Jesus crucifixion and resurrection. This volume gathers the prayers and biblical readings appointed for the entire week, including Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. There is an engraved frontispiece, and four additional full-page engravings. Beautiful contemporary "à la fanfare" binding in Burgundy-red Morocco with boards entirely decorated in gold with pointillé motifs, repeated on the spine with five raised bands. Gold-stamped dentils on the grooving and gilt edges. The binding is in the style of "Atelier Caumartin", very similar to the bindings described and reproduced in Catalogue Rothschild I and Catalogue Villeneuve I. An "à la fanfare" binding is a highly elaborate and decorative style of bookbinding characterized by continuous, interlaced geometric ribbons that divide the book's covers into symmetrical compartments. These compartments are typically filled with intricate small gilt tools, such as naturalistic leafy branches or scrolls. Developed in Paris during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, this style represents one of the most magnificent techniques in the history of bookbinding.

TITLE: L'Office de la Semaine Sainte, corrigé par le commandement du Roy: Conformément au Breviaire & Messel de Nôtre S. Père le Pape (Pape Urbain VIII). Nouvelle Édition... (The Office of Holy Week, corrected by order of the King: In accordance with the Breviary & Messel of Our Holy Father the Pope (Pope Urban VIII). New Edition...)
AUTHORS: Pope Urban VIII (1568–1644) and King Louis XIV (1643–1715), illustrations by M. Lefèbure and engraved by C. Fosset
PUBLISHER: Charles Fosset & Denis Chenault, ruë S. Jacques, prés S. Benoist, à la Resurrection. The printer Charles Fosset was active between approximately 1661 and 1695, according to data from Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
DATE: No date, but around 1670-1680, printed in Paris, text in French. Considering that here the French King (born in 1643) appears young, around 20-30 years old, we can say that the dating is around 1670-1680. Royal Privilege signed Du Puy

DESCRIPTION: In 4° size, height 198 x width 132 mm (8.1 by 6.6 inches). Pages [2] + 515, + 5 full page engravings depicting a young King Louis XIV kneeling before Christ taken down from the cross, the Entry into Jerusalem, the Crucifixion, the Last Supper, and the Resurrection (signed and designed by Le Febure, engraved by Fosset), complete book. Double title, one of which is full-page and figurative, in total 5 full-page engravings. Original Burgundy-red Morocco binding, richly tooled in gilt in a fanfare binding using a combination of shaped, fillet, and pointelle tools. Tools attributable to the binder Caumartin (see Lawrence A. Miller's list of the the Caumartin tools; easy to identify). Including the prominent French fleur-de-lis often found in the spine compartments of Louis XIV-era royal bindings, as per the first photo in this book. Few small defects, small stains or abrasions, very solid and intact binding as shown in the photo. Text and illustrations are generally clean, intact and well engraved, some slight water stains, few some redness, small defects, the book is in good general condition. COMPLETE EDITION.

SHIPPING: via UPS, DHL, National Postal Services, protected, INSURED and fully tracked package. Estimated time for Europe 3-5 working days. Shipping within one working day, you can combine shipping if you purchases several items from us, saving money and time.