WACE (Robert). Le Roman de Rou et des Ducs de Normandie, pub - Lot 616

WACE (Robert). Le Roman de Rou et des Ducs de Normandie, published for the first time from manuscripts in France and England, with notes [...] by Frédéric PLUQUET[...] Rouen, Édouard Frère, 1827. 2 volumes in-4, eggplant half-maroquin with corners, richly decorated ribbed spines, double gilt fillet on covers, place, publisher and date in gold lettering on tail (period binding signed Messier). Covers preserved. First edition, illustrated by E.-H. LANGLOIS with two engraved frontispieces richly enhanced in color and gold, with in the first volume two additional states of the frontispiece (aquatint and line engraving, on chine appliqué), and in the second volume an additional state of the frontispiece (aquatint) and an out-of-text line engraving on chine appliqué (Robert Wace offering his book to King Henri II, drawn and engraved by C.E. Lambert). A very fine copy, from the publisher, on large paper with full margins (one of 3 on Jésus Hollande paper), in a signed binding. "Edition imp. à Paris, chez Crapelet, et dont il a été tiré 60 exempl. pap. vél. Jésus, 5 pap. de Holl. (3 sur jésus et 2 sur pap. un peu plus petit), 3 pap. vél. anglais, in-8 ordin. A rhymed history, in the Romance language, of the Scandinavian chieftains and dukes of Normandy, from Hasting (867) to the battle of Tinchebray (1106), the Roman de Rou, composed of 16547 verses, recounts all the events of this period. In the first part of his narrative, Wace has perhaps followed too slavishly Dudon de St-Quentin and Guill. de Jumièges; however, he has added new details to those given by these historians, and he has the advantage over them of having written in the idiom spoken by the warriors whose exploits he recounts; the facts that determined, signaled and followed Guill.-le-Conquérant's expedition to England are recounted with scrupulous fidelity. In addition to M. Pluquet's notes, the aforementioned edition of the Roman de Rou contains a hist. commentary by M. Aug. Le Prevost, under whose auspices this publication was made." Frère. Ex-dono (partly faded) from Édouard Frère to his wife ("to my wife"), Rouen July 22, 1829. Ex-libris J.M. (Frère II, 613.) Attached in identical binding (same format): RAYNOUARD, Observations philologiques et grammaticales sur le Roman de Rou, et sur quelques règles de la langue des trouvères au douzième siècle. Rouen, Édouard Frère, 1829. [2] ff. vi-121 pp. - LE PREVOST (Aug.), Supplément aux notes historiques sur le Roman de Rou. Roue, Édouard Frère, 1829. [2] ff. 28-[1] pp. Some very slight rubbing, otherwise a very fine and valuable set.