Comines - Mémoires - 1747

COMINES: THE CONFIDENT OF THE KINGS, BETWEEN POLITICS AND TRUTH
This 1747 edition of Philippe de Commynes' Mémoires represents one of the most ambitious eighteenth-century rewritings of a foundational text of European political historiography. Richened by the erudite interventions of the Godefroys and expanded by the abbé Lenglet du Fresnoy, the work shifts from personal memoir to a layered historical construction, where documents, notes, and genealogical apparatuses consolidate the critical value of the text. The imprint “Londres,” paired with the Paris distribution through Rollin, reflects the editorial dynamics of the time, mixing typographic fiction and commercial reality. The result is a work that unites analysis of power, direct memory, and erudite construction of the history of France between the 15th and 18th centuries.
MARKET VALUE
Complete 4-volume copies in quarto, with intact iconographic material and contemporaneous binding, generally priced between 800 and 1,000 euros.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION - COLLECTOR'S COPY
Contemporary full calf binding, marbled, richly decorated gilt spines with raised bands, red edges; slight rubbing marks. 4 volumes illustrated with an allegorical frontispiece engraved by Duflos from a design by Bernard Picart, 4 portraits (Commynes, Louis XI, Charles the Bold, and Charles VIII), 5 woodcut headpieces (some repeated) and 2 folded genealogical plates. Newspapers with some browning and stains. Provenance: Marquis de Gages (heraldic bookplate on vol. I, later covered by the following one); Comte L. de Nédonchel, bibliothèque de Boussoit (heraldic bookplate). In old books with a long, multi-century history, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description.
Pp.:
Vol. I: (4); 6nn; 118; 632; (4).
Vol. II: (4); 4nn; 10; 660; (4).
Vol. II: (4); 4nn; 20; 650; (4).
Vol. IV: (4); 4nn; 8; 432; 216; (4).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Mémoires.
Londres et se trouve à Paris, Rollin, 1747.
Philippe de Commynes.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Mémoires of Commynes are considered a milestone in the birth of modern historiography for their ability to combine direct testimony and political analysis. In this edition, the work of the Godefroys and Lenglet du Fresnoy amplifies the original text through an imposing critical and documentary apparatus, turning it into a systematic study tool of the French monarchy between Louis XI and Charles VIII. The genealogical tables and portraits contribute to reinforcing the dynastic and visual dimension of the work, while the fictitious London imprint, together with the Paris distribution, testifies to the editorial strategies used to broaden circulation and perhaps circumvent commercial or censorial constraints.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Philippe de Commynes (c. 1447–1511) was one of the most important chroniclers and diplomats of his time. After serving Charles the Bold, he entered the service of Louis XI, becoming one of his most trusted advisers. His Mémoires offers a unique glimpse into the European politics of the 15th century, characterized by realism, psychological insight, and attention to the dynamics of power, profoundly influencing later historiography.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
The Mémoires were first published in the 16th century and repeatedly reissued. The 1747 edition represents one of the most important eighteenth-century versions, enriched by the interventions of the Godefroy family and Lenglet du Fresnoy. The designation “Londres” constitutes a fictitious imprint, while the phrase “se trouve à Paris, Rollin, fils” indicates the actual Paris distribution. This double designation reflects a widespread editorial practice in the 18th century. The work enjoyed wide circulation among European scholarly circles and was regarded as an indispensable source for the study of late-medieval French monarchy.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Brunet, Manuel du libraire, I, col. 665 (for the editions of the Mémoires); ICCU/OPAC SBN catalogs (search for Commynes, ed. 1747) for surviving copies; WorldCat for the description of the 1747 edition; studies on Jean Godefroy and Lenglet du Fresnoy as editors and commentators; critical literature on the publishing tradition of the Mémoires between the 17th and 18th centuries; de Jonghe d’Ardoye for catalogs of noble ex-libris (see entries Gages and Nédonchel).