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an old book sitting on top of a white surfacean old map of a town with people and animals in the foreground
ALDE

99 - VIDEL (Louis). *La Mélante* by Mr Videl, Secretary to His Gr…
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Estimate €600 - €800
Sale commission
Description
VIDEL (Louis). *La Mélante* by Mr Videl, Secretary to His Grace the Constable. A Romantic Tale of the Times. Paris, Samuel Thiboust, 1624. A substantial in-8 volume, marbled calfskin, framed with a gilt fillet, gilt coats of arms on the covers, spine decorated with gilt coats of arms and branches, marbled edges (late 17th-century binding). Engraved frontispiece title, 10 leaves (out of 11, blank leaf? printed title?), 1,015 pp. First edition dedicated to Marshal de Créquy. A pastoral novel in the style of *L’Astrée*. ‘The characters’ journey through the locations that serve as the setting for their adventures foreshadows the maps, punctuated with sentimental notes, which were to come into fashion shortly afterwards’ Cat. Bérés 69. 17th century no. 504.  Louis Videl was a prominent figure in the Dauphiné region. Born in Serres around 1598, he served as secretary to the Duke of Lesdiguières from 1628 until the Duke’s death in 1638. He died in poverty in 1675. A copy bound with the coat of arms and alternating armorial charges of the Countess of Verrue, with the inscription ‘Meudon’ above the arms. Olivier pl. 799 – Rochas. Biogr. du Dauphiné II, 473 – Arbour 11655 – Lever p. 262 – Cioranescu 66437 – Brunet V, 1183: ‘rare’ – Allard. Bibl. du Dauphiné p. 34.
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About the sale Xavier de Planhol Library – The Origins of the Novel
Auction location
Auction time 09/30/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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