Jacques de Voragine; L'Abbé J.-B. M. Roze

lot/jacques de voragine l abbe j b m roze la legende doree 1 25 zFuMf33 632881080 / For sale

lot/jacques de voragine l abbe j b m roze la legende doree 1 25 zFuMf33 632881080

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lot/jacques de voragine l abbe j b m roze la legende doree 1 25 zFuMf33 632881080

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Jacques de Voragine; L'Abbé J.-B. M. Roze - La Légende Dorée [1/25

Edited in Paris, by Édouard Rouveyre, in 1902. 3 volumes, 22 x 14 cm, 493 pp + 573 pp + 549 pages uncut, illustrated with facsimiles of incunabula, black-and-white reproductions, a manuscript specimen of the translation, a folding plate (Christian martyrs), initials and titles reproduced in red and black. Limited head print run of 25 copies on Japanese imperial paper, here this is copy No. 14. 401 Structure of the work This rare and luxurious edition consists of three complete volumes, bound in the original red-and-black printed covers. Each volume is numbered and titled (First Part, Second Part, Third Part) and structured according to a thematic division faithful to the original medieval structure. The work is accompanied by a modern French translation by Father J.-B.-M. Roze, with an erudite introduction, notes, critical apparatus, an analytic table of saints at the end of each volume, and an in-depth study of the hagiographical sources used by Voragine. Precious supplementary documents, such as facsimile of a manuscript autographed by the translator (Roze) and a Latin prologue ornate in the incunabular style, enrich this edition. The series is complete. Book theme The Golden Legend is a collection of saints’ lives written in the 13th century for preachers and the faithful. Organized around the Christian liturgical calendar, the work recounts the lives, miracles, and martyrdoms of the great figures of Christianity. This translation is one of the first modern attempts to render this work within a rigorous philological framework. It blends spirituality, religious history, and medieval culture, and is aimed at scholars as well as enthusiasts of Christian iconography and hagiographic literature. Brief biography of the author Jacques de Voragine (c. 1230–1298), Dominican and Archbishop of Genoa, composed his Legenda aurea around 1260–1270. The work immediately became a best-seller of medieval Christendom, copied and translated into all European languages. It is a true condensate of spirituality, popular piety, and medieval religious imagination. Through its influence on sermons, iconography, religious theater, and painting, Jacques de Voragine is undoubtedly one of the most read and widely circulated authors of medieval Christian Europe. About the illustrators The work contains no original contemporary illustrations but reproduces old elements: a illuminated prologue in red and black à la incunabula, a folding plate showing the torments inflicted on Christian martyrs, and facsimiled Gothic initials. These elements are exceptionally fine, faithful to manuscripts and early printed books. The reproduction of a manuscript annotated by the translator (Roze) adds a valuable philological dimension. All has been crafted with great typographic care by Édouard Rouveyre’s workshops. Historical importance of the book This edition is the first modern French critical translation of the Legenda aurea, accompanied by an exceptional scientific apparatus. It appears at a pivotal moment when the rediscovery of the Middle Ages by scholars, artists, and writers (Huysmans, Péguy, etc.) fuels a renewed interest in Christian and hagiographical culture. The choice of a run on Japanese imperial paper and a limited edition of 25 copies make this work a top-tier bibliophilic creation, intended for a refined, collecting audience. State of the work A well-preserved copy for its age, in its three original softcovers. Small tears or chips at the head and tail of the spine (especially in Volume III), light wear on the boards, but complete covers. Interior very fresh, no foxing, Japanese paper of exceptional finesse and suppleness. All annexed documents (folding plate, manuscript page, facsimile of the incunable prologue) are present. The red-and-black printing is perfectly sharp. Copy No. 14 of 25, very rare on the market. Nota bene: as I am not a professional bookseller, I cannot always provide a professional description, especially for bound volumes, nor all conservation details. The photos are part of the descriptions, offered in good faith, and I am available for specific questions. To save substantial shipping costs, it is possible to ship the parcel by Mondial Relay to certain European countries. Please contact us. About the value of the book Ordinary copies of this edition are already sought after, but the head prints on Japanese paper are extremely rare. Only one copy of this series has recently appeared on a specialist site for more than €1,500 (excluding supplementary documents). Auction records indicate a value up to €1,800 for copies in comparable condition. The copy presented here, complete, well-preserved, printed on imperial paper from Tokyo’s manufactories, with its draw number (No. 14/25) and all illustrations and ancillary items, can reasonably be valued between €1,200 and €1,500. It targets bibliophiles of international standing. A true jewel of fin-de-siècle publishing.

Estimate:$313.02

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