Le Gendre - Histoire du règne de Louis le Grand - 1698

THE GENDRE, ABÉ LOUIS — ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LOUIS THE GREAT, UP TO THE GENERAL PEACE 1697 (PARIS, JEAN GUIGNARD, 1698).
Paris: Jean Guignard, 1698.
Small 12mo. Contemporary full calf, spine ruled with gilt.
Famous “Third Edition” revised and published during Louis XIV’s life by the bookseller Jean Guignard, rue Saint-Jacques in Paris.

Written by the canon of Notre-Dame de Paris, Louis Le Gendre, this work offers a methodical panorama of the major phases of the reign: Louis XIV’s direct seizure of power in 1661 (“The King governs without a prime minister”), the reorganization of finances and armies, the Hollande campaign of 1672 under the command of the Great Condé and the Viscount of Turenne, as well as the great peace treaties of the Ancien Régime.

The text is carefully structured, enriched with marginal notes printed in Gothic/Roman type to facilitate reading of the military campaigns and political acts.

Copy preserved in its XVIIth-century original full brown calf binding. Spine ruled with gilt compartments, somewhat darkened with small scuffing and the usual wear on the leather at the corners and edges. Very sturdy structure and well closed.
Interior in fine condition on period laid paper. Title page presenting a real bibliophilic seal with its autographic pious motto “Non nobis Domine…” and its red wax seal preserved.

By choosing to end his narrative in 1697 with the signing of the Treat y of Ryswick, Abbe Le Gendre immortalizes the military and diplomatic apex of France in the XVIIth century. The historian became so renowned that he was later named chronicler to the King!"