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an old yellow book sitting on top of a table next to a gray wallan open book with a drawing of a building on the coveran open book with a black and white image of a man and a woman
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54 - SERRES (Olivier de). *Le théâtre d'agriculture et mesnage de…
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Estimate €6,000 - €8,000
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Description
SERRES (Olivier de). *Le théâtre d'agriculture et mesnage des champs*. Paris: Jamet Mettayer, 1 July 1600. Folio, 21 x 33.5 cm, 8 folios, 1004 pages, 10 folios (a4, e4, A–Z4, Aa–Zz4, Aaa–Zzz4, Aaaa–Zzz4, Aaaaa–Zzzzz4, Aaaaaa–Mmmmmm4, Nnnnnn6), modern binding in imitation ivory-coloured tanned leather, plain ribbed spine. ‘A very rare first edition’ (Tchemerzine) of the first modern treatise on agronomy. ‘This is the first major French treatise on agronomy. Serres’ prose, following in the footsteps of Montaigne and Saint François de Sales, is clear and beautiful… More than twenty successive editions attest to its success” (In French in the text). Illustrated with a famous frontispiece engraved by Charles de Mallery (Karel van Mallery, 1571–c. 1635), from Antwerp, a pupil and later son-in-law of Philippe Galle, who lived in France in the late 16th century and early 17th century, following a stay in Rome. His body of work is substantial: devotional prints, allegories, and portraits, including those of King Henry IV—to whom the *Théâtre d’agriculture* is dedicated—Marie de Médicis, Catherine de Bourbon, and the future Louis XIII, still in his cradle. It is also illustrated with 16 woodcuts depicting flowerbeds and garden layouts at the royal residences of the Louvre (Tuileries) and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and 8 wood-engraved panels illustrating scenes of country life. Very good condition. A cleaned copy; the title page and the margins of the last six leaves have been lined. Minor signs of wear: a tear with no loss on pp. 15–16; a small worm-eaten area in the margin on pp. 23 to 314; restoration in the margin of folio a2 and the final leaves; a loss of paper in the lower corner on pp. 589–590, without affecting the text; a shorter leaf at the end on pp. 593–594; beige marks on pp. 701–708 and pp. 763–764. In French in the text, 79.— Tchemerzine, V, 817.— Mortimer. French Books, 494.— Kress, 236.— Thiebaud, 840.— Schwerdt, II, 156–157.— Simon. *Bibliotheca Bacchica*, II, 619.— Vicaire, pp. 788–789. - Experts: Cédric and Ithier de FOUGEROLLE
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About the sale Antique and modern books, manuscripts
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Auction time 10/21/2026 at 1:30 PM
Ref. : 15251 - 38
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