RARE ILLUSTRATED FIRST EDITION (1657) of this collection of gallantries in verse attributed to the son of the king's actor de Beauchasteau, then aged twelve. A child prodigy, he was introduced to the king Louis XIV through queen Christine of Sweden and, upon the publication of this collection, received pensions and honors. Welcomed in England in 1658 by Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), the child disappeared mysteriously in 1661 during a trip in Persia. This rare copy exceptionally contains 25 full-page portraits, while Jacques-Charles Brunet in his manual (Brunet I, 715) describes this edition with only 22 portraits. The portraits are produced and signed by the French illustrator Jean Frosne (1623-1676). The quality of the copper engravings portraits is remarkable with great detail and contrast. The same edition is currently on sale for US$ 5,000.00 while here it is offered at a fraction of that price. This book published on 23 April 1657, contains 375 poems, plays, epigrams and madrigals by young De Beauchasteau in several languages (French, Italian, Greek, Spanish) dedicated to various personalities of the time. The work opens with sixty pieces praising the young poet, composed by forty-five writers, actors and courtiers (Boileau-Despréaux, Métel de Boisrobert, de Brébeuf, Guillaume Colletet, Gilbert, Jules de La Mesnardière, Maynard le fils, Saint-Gilles, Beys and even Scarron). The volume is divided into two parts, one dedicated to King Louis XIV and the second to Cardinal Jules Mazarin or Mazzarino, each with a dedicated portrait. TITLE: La Lyre du jeune Apollon, ou la Muse naissante du petit de Beauchasteau (François-Mathieu Chastelet de Beauchasteau)...Published by Charles de Sercy et Guillaume de Luynes, in Paris MDCLVII (1657), first edition. The 25 portraits represent various dedicatees of the poems including the King Louis XIV, the queen consort Maria Teresa of Spain (María Teresa de Austria), Cardinal Richelieu statesman and clergyman, Henrietta Maria of France and Queen of England & Scotland, Philippe I Duke of Orléans and Anjou, Cardinal Jules Mazarin or Mazzarino statesman and clergyman, Gaston I Duke of Orléans and Anjou, Louis Armand I Prince of Conti, Chancellor Pierre Séguier, Pompone de Bellièvre first president of the Parliament of Paris, Abel Servien French diplomat and superintendent of finances from 1653 to 1659, Nicolas Fouquet attorney general at the Parliament of Paris and superintendent of finance from 1653 to 1659, Pope Alexander VII born Fabio Chigi, Cardinal Francesco Barberini, Cardinal Antonio Barberini and Archbishop of Reims, Cardinal Flavio Chigi, Charles Emmanuel II (Carlo Emanuele II di Savoia) Duke of Savoy, Princess Louise of Savoy (Luisa Cristina di Savoia), Henriette Adelaide Duchess of Savoy and Electress of Bavaria (Enrichetta Adelaide Maria or Henriette Adelheid Maria von Savoyen), Francesco I d'Este Duke of Modena and Reggio, Charles Gonzaga (Carlo II di Gonzaga) Duke of Mantua or Mantova, Montferrat or Monferrato and Rethel-Nevers, Mario Chigi general of the church troops and brother of Pope Alexander VII, Agostino Chigi I Prince of Farnese was the nephew of Pope Alexander VII and Pope Paul V. DESCRIPTION: in 4to size height 250 x weight 180 mm or 9.9 by 7.1 inches. PART ONE: 47 sheets for half title, frontispiece, title, preface, dedications plus + 262 [i.e. 276] pages. PART TWO: 5 sheets for half title, frontispiece, dedication, preface + 127 [i.e. 140] pages + 1 sheet for king's privilege and date of publication (23 April 1657), several numbering errors. Plus 25 leaves/plates of full page portraits. Richly illustrated with beautiful floral decorations, drop caps and large vignettes. 20th century half leather binding with marbled plates in very good condition with gilt titles and date on the spine. A portrait restored and glued onto rigid cardboard, with slight losses on two corners, traces of woodworm work on the white margin (without loss) at the top right on 20 sheets, some marginal tears but still without loss of text or images. Approximately 25 browned sheets, last page restored involving 5-line text. The text is well printed and the illustrations are very detailed and with great contrast, there are few scattered water stains and foxing here and there. LITERATURE/REFERNCES: Brunet I, 715; Picot, Catalogue Rothschild, I, 833; Viollet-Le-Duc I, 484; Lachèvre, Glanes I, 51 à 57 et II, 221 à 225; Duportal, p. 303; Cat. Nourry, Poètes Français (1929), n°221; Jean-Marc Chatelain in Revue de la BnF n° 12, 2002, pp. 37-40; Lachèvre, Bibliographie de recueils collectifs de poésies publiés de 1597 à 1700, II, 121-122; Michael Bryan, Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, Biographical and Critical (Jean Frosne engraver), London, 1849, p. 260. SHIPPING: via UPS, DHL, National Postal Services, protected, INSURED and fully tracked package. Estimated time for Europe 3-5 working days. Shipping within one working day, you can combine shipping if you purchases several items from us, saving money and time.