Philippe Desportes - Les Premieres Oeuvres - 1580

RARE BOOK IN FINE CONDITION by Philippe Desportes (1546-1606), "Les Premières Oeuvres" (The First Works) and printed in Paris 1580, by Robert Estienne press. Philippe Desportes was a French Baroque poet. Nicknamed the “French Tibulle” for the gentleness and ease of his verses. His trip to Italy in 1566 alongside Bishop Puy-du-Dôme allowed him to become acquainted with Italian literature, an event which led to his desire to transplant Ariosto's work to France. Henry III of France appointed Desportes as court poet, whose function consisted, in addition to the preparation of a good number of poems dedicated to his sovereign, in the reorganization of the "Académie du Palais", fundamental for the direction of French literary taste in the 16th century. This collection of poems, followed by fragments adapted by Ariosto, was received with enthusiasm, and reprinted in many editions. Superb antique book of one of the most important French poets and writers of the Renaissance. Beautiful leather binding in excellent condition with gilt trim, the pages are clean, well printed and almost free from defects. The first edition of 1573 also printed by Robert Estienne sold at Christie's for 21,250 euros, here the 1580 edition is offered at a fraction of that price.

TITLE: Les Premieres Oeuvres De Philippes Des Portes. Au Roy De France Et De Polongne. Reveues, Corrigees & Augmentees En Ceste Derniere Impression…(The First Works of Philippe des Portes. To the King of France and Poland. Revised, Corrected & Augmented in This Latest Printing...). Printed in Paris by Mamert Patisson and Robert Estienne. MDLXXX (1580).

DESCRIPTION: In-12° size, height 133 x width 86 mm or 5.3 by 3.4 inches. Pages [4], 242 numbered sheets, [14]. Complete fine copy in modern brown morocco, spine with 5 nerves, title and gilt panels on spine. Hardcover in excellent condition with solid plates and golden finishes. Pages are clean and in excellent condition, rare defcts, french text elegantly printed in italics, with ornate initial letters, arabesque bands and typographic florets.

THIS BOOK INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING WORKS: Amours de Diane LIV I-II. Amours d'Hippolyte. Elegies. Imitations de l'Arioste, Roland Furieux. Diverses Amours Et Autres Oeuvres, Meslanges. Prieres, et oeuvres chrestiennes.

REFERENCES/LITERATURE: WORLD CAT OCLC N° 465180083; Tchemerzine-Scheler II, 880-882-890; USTC 1545 (1573 edition); De Backer, 519; Renouard, 174-180; J. P. Barbier-Mueller, MBP, IV-2, 1; J. P. Barbier-Mueller, Dictionnaire…, II, pp. 541-550; FVB, 15857; USTC, 49735; Brunet, II-647 (1573 edition); Philippe Lavaud, Un poète de cour au temps des Valois, P. Desportes, Parigi, 1936; François Rouget, Philippe Desportes et la logique des recueils poétiques, in Réforme, Humanisme, Renaissance, n. 62, 2006, pp. 97-108.

AUTHOR: Philippe Desportes or Desports (1546-1606) was a French Baroque poet. Nicknamed the “French Tibulle” for the gentleness and ease of his verses, he was abbot of Tiron, of Josaphat, near Chartres, reader of the King's chamber and councilor of state. While serving as secretary to the Bishop of Le Puy he visited Italy, where he learned Italian poetry. This experience became a good account. On his return to France he attached himself to the duke of Anjou, and followed him to Cracow on his election as king of Poland. Nine months in Poland satisfied the civilized Desportes, but in 1574 his patron became king of France as Henry III. He showered favours on the poet, who received, in reward for the skill with which he wrote occasional poems at the royal request, the abbey of Tiron and four other valuable benefices. The collection of poems, followed by fragments adapted by Ariosto, was received with enthusiasm, and reprinted in many editions.

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