LE ROMAN DE LA ROSE for François 1er (Fac simile)
Facsimile of manuscript M.948 Pierpont Morgan Library of New York
Editions Les Sillons du Temps, Lyon, 1993.
2 quarto Volumes(208 pages for the facsimile and 161 pages for the volume of comments). The facsimile is covered with a pastiche binding "à la fanfare" full leather stamped and struck with the arms of François 1st; the comment volume is half leather. The two books are each in cases.
The facsimile of the Roman de la Rose by Guilluame de Lorris and Jean de Meun reproduces identically the manuscript M.948 Pierpont Morgan Library of New York. This is a single print run of 980 copies. The binding comes from the workshops of the Reliures d'art du Centre (Limoges). Publishing is the work of the Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt. These high-quality facsimiles are rare on the market, with libraries being the first buyers.
The volume of comments is by M. FRIESEN preceded by a preface by Georges DUBY.
The Roman de la Rose is a collection of allegorical poetry begun by Guillaume de Lorris around 1230 and 1235 and completed by Jean de Meung around 1275. The manuscript that is the subject of this facsimile, kept at the Pierpont Morgan Library, was written in homage to King Francis I by Girard Acarie on the basis of a text printed in 1519. One or more Rouen artists made the illuminations.
The condition of the whole is close to new.