Jean Tristan - Commentaires historiques - 1635

EDITIO PRINCEPS (1635) + AUTHOR'S AUTOGRAPH LETTER (1634) – Jean Tristan, Sieur de Saint-Amant – Commentaires Historiques, Roman Numismatics, Folio, Royal Privilege

Short Description
An absolute, museum-grade rarity for elite bibliophiles. This lot features a superb 1635 editio princeps (first edition) of a foundational work on Roman numismatics and history, uniquely paired with a highly important, original handwritten letter signed by the author himself, Jean Tristan, in 1634. A one-of-a-kind historical ensemble with exceptional archival and investment value.

Uniqueness & Investment Value
1. The Book (1635 Editio Princeps): This is the very first edition of Jean Tristan’s legendary treatise Commentaires Historiques, published in Paris by Pierre Billaine. While later expanded into multiple volumes a decade later, this early 1635 edition represents the core work in its purest form. It is lavishly illustrated with 18 full-page copper-plate engravings (tailles douces) depicting hundreds of enigmatic reverses of ancient Roman and Greek coins and medals.
2. The Holy Grail – Inset Signed Autograph Letter (L.S. 1634): Laid into this specific copy is an original handwritten letter entirely written and signed by Jean Tristan himself ("Tristan"). Dated October 31, 1634 —exactly one year before the book’s official publication—the letter features a dense, brilliant 1-page legal argument regarding a royal annuity (rente) involving major French court figures of the era (M. de Hodencq, M. de Bréauté, and Mme de Fontenay).
3. Intact Red Wax Seals & Address: The reverse of the letter retains its original handwritten delivery address to Monsieur Guyot (King’s Counselor and Treasury Paymaster) along with two original red wax seals (cachets de cire rouge), wonderfully preserving 17th-century postal history.
4. Prestigious Ecclesiastical Provenance (Ex-Libris): The final leaf bears the historic, elegant library tag of Jean-Marie Duchêne, Archpriest of Pouilly-en-Auxois and Curé of Créancey, adding a verified lineage of ownership from an elite French clerical private collection.

Technical Specifications
- Author: Jean Tristan, Sieur de Saint-Amant (c. 1595–1656), renowned French numismatist, historian, and royal antiquarian.
- Full Title: Commentaires Historiques, contenants en abregé les vies, eloges et censures des empereurs, imperatrices, cesars et tyrans de l'Empire Romain, iusques à Pertinax...
- Imprint: Paris, Chez Pierre Billaine, rue Sainct Iacques, à la Bonne Foy, deuant Sainct Yves.
- Date: 1635 (Book) / October 31, 1634 (Signed Letter).
- Language: Classical 17th-century French (with Latin epigraphs).
- Illustrations: Engraved portrait frontispiece of Jean Tristan framed in oak leaves + 18 magnificent numismatic plates.
- Included Ephemera: Includes an old dactilographed French cataloguer's reference sheet detailing the precise historical and monetary context of the letter.

Condition Report
- Book: Crisp typographic pages, strong paper with light age-toning and minor edge wear consistent with a 400-year-old Folio volume. Engravings remain sharp and rich in detail.
- Manuscript Letter: Excellent legibility, ink remains dark, sharp, and prominent. The author's signature is bold and perfectly preserved at the bottom right corner. The two red wax seals on the reverse are partially intact and visually striking.

Collector's Final Note
Finding a 17th-century numismatic masterpiece is already a rare feat for a collector; finding an edition princeps uniquely accompanied by a handwritten, signed document from the author written during the book's final preparation is virtually unheard of on the public market. This is a supreme investment-grade lot destined for a high-end private library or institutional collection.

Based on the information I have, the letter is original, but it has not been certified as such by an expert.