Eight volumes from the library of Louis de Sainte-Maure are known. Three are recueils, containing altogether 22 separately published editions of Cicero’s orations, from the Parisian presses of Josse Bade, Michel de Vascosan, and Simon de Colines, printed 1532-1547; four are works of ancient or modern history, published at Lyon or Basel, printed 1556-1558; and one is Jean de Maumont’s French translation of the collected works of the Christian apologist Saint Justin Martyr, printed at Paris by Michel de Vascosan in 1559, and the latest book of the group.

Louis de Sainte-Maure was the second son of Jean III de Sainte-Maure, comte de Nesle et de Joigny, and Anne d’Humières. In January 1545, in anticipation of his marriage to Renée de Rieux (1524-1567; after 1547, known as Guyonne, comtesse de Laval), François I granted him the title of marquis, which is lettered upon all eight bindings. Upon the death in May 1547 of her uncle, Guy XVII, said to have been stabbed by Henri II during a quarrel, the Laval estate passed to the couple, and Louis de Sainte-Maure (now denominated Guy XVIII) is said to have transferred the rich Laval library to Nesle in Picardie.¹ His three titles of nobility (Nesle, Laval, Joigny) are lettered on several bindings; a motto “In via Virtuti nulla est via” on one.

The three recueils (nos. 1-3 below) and the Plinius (no. 6) were bound ca 1550-1555 in the Parisian atelier designated the “Cupid’s Bow Binder”. The Giovio (no. 5) was bound in Lyon ca 1556-1558 by the “Medallions of Henri II Binder”. The luxurious binding on the Saint Justin Martyr is from an as yet unidentified shop. The “Prologue du Roy” in this book is subscribed by Jean de Maumont, at Paris, 10 June 1559, and the colophon dated July 1559. It was given a binding date of ca 1559 by Paul Culot, but more likely was bound in the mid-1560s. On 27 May 1559, Louis de Sainte-Maure stood together with Frédéric de Foix, Gaston de Foix, and Antoine du Prat in the palace of Westminster, and surrendered himself into custody, in accordance with the terms of the recently-concluded treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis. The hostages were visited in London sometime during 1560 by Pierre Boaistuau; in 1562, all except Du Prat were released. The binding on the Du Choul (1556) may also date from the early or mid-1560s. The Polybius (1558) has very recently come to our notice and no details of its binding are yet available.

After the death of Renée, Louis de Sainte-Maure married Madeleine Olivier. Her remarriage after his own death (9 September 1572) was the occasion for producing an “Inventaire après décès” which might contain information about his library.²

list of bindings

(1) Marcus Tullius Cicero, [recueil of 6 books, 1532-1543] (1) Oratio pro P. Quintio (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1543), bound with (2) Cicero, Oratio pro Sex. Roscio Amerino (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1541), bound with (3) Cicero, Pro Q. Roscio Comoedo M. T. Ciceronis Orationis quod extat Fragmentum (Paris: Josse Bade, 1532), bound with (4) Cicero, Actionum in Verrem Libri quatuor (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1539), bound with (5) Cicero, Pro M. Fonteio Oratio (Paris: Josse Bade, 1533), bound with (6) Cicero, Pro A. Cecinna Oratio (Paris: Simon de Colines, 1540)

provenance
● Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle (1515-1572), supralibros
● François-Gustave-Adolphe Guyot de Villeneuve (1825-1898)
● Maurice Delestre & Edouard Rahir, Catalogue des livres manuscrits et imprimés, des dessins et des estampes du cabinet de feu M. Guyot de Villeneuve. Deuxième partie, Paris, 25-30 March 1901, lot 574 (“Ens. 5 [sic] ouvrages en 1 vol. in-4 … veau fauve, dos orné, riches comp. peints en mosaïque de différentes couleurs, tr. dor. et ciselée” [link]) [cataloguer overlooks (3), the Josse Bade imprint]
● unidentified owner - bought in sale (FF 1570)
● Edmée Maus (1905-1971), exlibris
● Michel Wittock (1936-2020)
● Christie’s, The Michel Wittock Collection, Part I: Important Renaissance Bookbindings, London, 7 July 2004, lot 39 (“The present binding is the work of the Cupid’s Bow Binder”)
● unidentified owner - bought in sale (£41,825)

literature
Paul Culot, “La reliure en Italie et en France” in Bibliotheca Wittockiana, Musea Nostra - 38 (Brussels 1996), p.33 (illustrated)
Anthony Hobson & Paul Culot, Italian and French 16th-century bookbindings (Brussels 1991), no. 43


(2) Marcus Tullius Cicero, [recueil of 6 books, all Vascosan imprints, 1537-1547] (1) Pro T. Annio Milone oratio (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1545), bound with (2) Cicero, Pro C. Rabirio posthumo oratio (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1537), bound with (3) Cicero, In M. Antonium Philippicæ orationes XIIII (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1544), bound with (4) Cicero, Orationes tres ad C. Caesarem Pro M. Marcello … Pro Q. Ligario… Pro rege Deiotaro (Paris: Vascosan, 1547), bound with (5) Pseudo-Cicero, Epistola ad Octavium (Paris: Vascosan, 1549), bound with (6) Sallust, M.T. Ciceronem invectiva oratio: & Ciceronis in eundem responsio (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1541)

provenance
● Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle (1515-1572), supralibros
● Librairie Damascène Morgand, Répertoire méthodique de la librairie Damascène Morgand. Première partie (Paris 1893), item 2502 (FF 2000; “M.T. Ciceronis Pro T. Annio Milone Oratio XXXVIII, Q. Asconii Pediani et Franciscii Sylvii commentariis … Parisiis, ex. off. Michaelis Vascosani, 1545, in-4, réglé, veau, entrelacs peints, milieux, tr. dor. et ciselée (Rel. anc.) Superbe reliure en mosaïque portant les armes et le nom de Loys de Saincte Maure …” [does not identify other texts in the volume; link]; [re-offered by Librairie Morgand together with no. 3 below (purchased by them in the Maglione sale, January 1894:] Bulletin mensuel - No. 24, avril 1894 (Paris 1894), item 24879 (“18 [sic] parties en 2 vol. in-4. réglés, veau fauve, riches comp. en mosaïque, fers pleins et azures, tr. dor et ciselée … Ces 2 volumes contiennent ensemble 36 Discours de Cicéron publiés séparément chez Vascosan”); Bulletin mensuel, n.s. - No. 2, janvier 1905 (Paris 1905), item 801 (FF 3000; “Ciceronis Orationes. Parisiis, ex off. Michaelis Vascosani, 1537-1547, 16 parties en 2 vol. in-4. veau fauve, riches comp. en mosaïque, tr. dor et ciselée”)
● Édouard Rahir, Paris [one of the “Rahir fifty” purchased by Pierpont Morgan in 1907]
● New York, Morgan Library & Museum, 15436 (1-7) (opac regards the fourth item in this volume, 15436.3, the Vascosan 1547 publication, as two bibliographical entities, thereby reaching a total seven editions [link])

literature
Howard Nixon, Sixteenth-century gold-tooled bookbindings in the Pierpont Morgan Library (New York 1971), p.151


(3) Marcus Tullius Cicero, [recueil of 10 books (of which two printed by Josse Bade), 1535-1547; according to opac bound in this order] (1) M. T. Ciceronis oratio pro lege Manilia ad populum… Rodolphi Agricolae scholiis, F. Sylvii, Jacobi Omphalii commentariis ac Bartholomaei Latomi annotationibus et Antonii Luschi Vincentini artificio illustrata (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1541), bound with (2) M. T. Ciceronis De lege agraria in L. Servilium Rullum, tribunum plebis, orationes tres (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1540), bound with (3) M. Tullii Ciceronis in L. Catilinam orationes invectivae quatuor (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1540, bound with (4) Pro L. Valerio Flacco, M. T. Ciceronis, cum F. Sylvii commentariis, oratio (Paris: Josse Base, 1535), bound with (5) M. T. Ciceronis pro A. Licinio Archia poeta oratio, Francisci Sylvii commentariis, Bartholomaei Latomi annotatiunculis, et Martini Bolerii scholiis illustrata ((Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1547), bound with (6) M. T. Ciceronis oratio pro Cn. Planco, Francisci Sylvii et Bartholomaei Latomi commentariis illustrata (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1539), bound with (7) Mar. Tullii Ciceronis oratio in Vatinium, cum argumento et scholiis Barth. Latomi (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1543), bound with (8) M. Tullii Ciceronis pro M. Coelio oratio, Joannis Tislini, Bartholomaei Latomi et Philippi Melanchthonis commentariis illustrata (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1544), bound with (9) Pro L. Cornelio Balbo, M. Tullii Ciceronis oratio, cum F. Sylvii Ambiani Commentariis luculentissimis (Paris: Josse Bade, 29 avril 1535), bound with (10) M. T. Ciceronis in L. Pisonem oratio, Q. Asconii Pediani & Jacobi Omphalii commentariis illustrata (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1543)

provenance
● Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle (1515-1572), supralibros
● Benedetto Maglione
● Maurice Delestre & Em. Paul, L. Huard et Guillemin, Bibliothèque de feu M. Benedetto Maglione de Naples, première partie, Paris, 22-27 January 1894, lot 230 [link]
● Librairie Damascène Morgand, Paris - bought in sale (FF 350); their Bulletin mensuel - No. 24, avril 1894 (Paris 1894), item 24879 ([offered together with no. 2 above] “18 [sic] parties en 2 vol. in-4. réglés, veau fauve, riches comp. en mosaïque, fers pleins et azures, tr. dor et ciselée … Ces 2 volumes contiennent ensemble 36 Discours de Cicéron publiés séparément chez Vascosan.” [link]); Bulletin mensuel - No. 41, mai 1897 (Paris 1897), item 29477 (“18 parties en 2. vol. in-4” [link]); Bulletin mensuel, n.s. - No. 2, janvier 1905 (Paris 1905), item 801 (“16 parties en 2 vol. in-4. veau fauve, riches comp. en mosaïque, tr. dor. et ciselée”)
● Louis Delamare, his bequest 1908
● Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, RES M-X-46 (opac “recueil réunissant des discours de Cicéron sous une reliure en veau fauve à décor d’entrelacs géométriques peints, aux armes peintes de Louis de Sainte-Maure (plat sup.) et à son nom (plat inf.). - Don de M. Louis Delamare, 1908” [link])


(4) Guillaume Du Choul, Discours de la religion des anciens romains (Lyon: Guillaume Rouillé, 1556)

provenance
● Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle (1515-1572), supralibros
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of valuable printed books, illuminated and other manuscripts and autograph letters, London, 19-21 December 1921, lot 550 (“contemporary brown calf, the sides decorated with intertwining plain and silver leafy scrolls outlined with gold; a large central ornament of two broad fillets, one plain, one black, interlacing to a geometrical design relieved with leafy scrolls; the background of the whole cover decorated with a semis of gold dots,; in the centre of the upper cover in gold the inscription ‘Lois de Ste Mavre, Marquis de Nesle,’ on the lower ‘Conte de Ivigny et de Laval’; the back decorated with fillets, scrolls and dots to a similar design, gilt edges tooled ‘au pointillé’ (back defective and mended, one joint cracked, corners repaired; somewhat rubbed, a small piece torn form the surface of the lower cover” [link])
● Maggs Bros, London - bought in sale (£4 5s)


(5) Paolo Giovio, Histoires sur les choses faictes et avenues de son temps (Lyon: Guillaume Rouillé, 1558)

provenance
● Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle (1515-1572), supralibros
● Charles Lormier (1825-1900), exlibris
● Maurice Delestre & Em. Paul et Fils et Guillemin, Bibliothèque de feu M. Charles Lormier, de Rouen. Deuxième partie, Paris, 20-24 May 1902, lot 750 (“réglé, v. f. dos orné, riches comp. tr. dor. … Riche et curieuse reliure du XVIe siècle couverte de compartiments d’entrelacs et de fers azurés, portant aux angles des plats, des médaillons dorés en relief. Ces médaillons représentant le portrait du roi Henri II … Au centre des plats on lit dans un grand compartiment se détachant sur fond bleu, à moitié effacé, le nom suivant, frappé en lettres d’or: Lois de Ste Maure, marquis de Nelle, conte de Joygny et Laval. Reliure fatiguée au dos et au coins des plats.”)
● Librairie Damascène Morgand, Bulletin mensuel, n.s. - No. 2, janvier 1905 (Paris 1905), item 802 (FF 3000; “veau fauve, plats entièrement recouverts de dorures et de comp. de mosaïque, médailles avec effigie de Henri II, tr. dor”)
● New York, Morgan Library & Museum, 002008 (opac “Name of owner ‘Lois de Ste. Maure, marquis de Nelle,’ on obverse & “Conte de Jogny et Laval” on reverse covers … Bookplate of Charles Lormier” [link])

literature
Nixon, op. cit., no. 38
Anthony Hobson, Humanists and bookbinders: the origins and diffusion of the humanistic bookbinding, 1459-1559 (Cambridge 1989), p.241 (“Census of Plaquette and Medallion bindings”, no. 97h)


(6) Gaius Plinius Secundus, Historia mundi libri XXXVII (Basel: Hieronymus Froben & Nikolaus Episcopius, 1545)

provenance
● Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle (1515-1572), supralibros
● Guglielmo Bruto Icilio Timoleone, Count Libri (Libri-Carrucci) (1803-1869)
● S. Leigh Sotheby & John Wilkinson, Catalogue of the reserved & most valuable portion of the Libri collection, London, 25-29 July 1862, lot 459 (“This copy is in the binding of the celebrated Louis de Saincte Maure, Marquis de Nesles”)
● Boone, London - bought in sale (£116)
● Félix Solar (1815-1870)
● Charles Pillet & Jacques Techener, Catalogue de la bibliothèque de M. Félix Solar. Première partie, Paris, 19 November-8 December 1860, lot 537 (“Magnifique reliure ancienne, exécutée pour Louys de Sainte-Maure” [link])
● Bertram Ashburnham, 4th Earl Ashburnham (1797-1878)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of valuable books and manuscripts selected from the library of a gentleman, London, 27-29 November 1896, lot 359 (“large paper, ruled in red, French brown morocco, gilt and blind ornaments on the back, the sides inlaid with elaborate interlaced geometrical frame ornaments in black, white, blue and green, with name, ‘Loys de Saincte Maure,’ in centre of upper cover, and motto, ‘In via Virtuti nulla est via,’ in centre of the under cover, edges gauffred in plain ornaments”)
● Bernard Quaritch, London - bought in sale (£160) (Book-prices current, 10, 1897, no. 6555 [link])
● Alfred-Louis Lebeuf de Montgermont (1841-1918)
● Édouard Rahir, Livres de la bibliothèque de M.L. de Montgermont (Paris 1914), item 178
● Édouard Rahir, Paris
● Fernand Lair-Dubreuil, Henri Baudoin & Francisque Lefrançois, La bibliothèque de feu Edouard Rahir, ancien libraire. Première partie, Paris, 7-9 May 1930, lot 195
● unidentified owner - bought in sale (FF 176,000)
● Cortlandt Field Bishop (1870-1935)
● Kende Galleries, The magnificent French library formed by the late Cortlandt F. Bishop; the property of Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Falcke, Lenox, Massachusetts, New York, 7-8 December 1948, lot 247 (illustrated; [link])
● Louis H. Silver (1902-1963)
● Chicago, Newberry Library, Case 6A 157

literature
Guillaume Libri, Monuments inédits ou peu connus faisant partie du cabinet de Guillaume Libri (London 1864), Pl. XV [link]
Dorothy Miner, The History of bookbinding 525-1950 A.D. (Baltimore 1957), no. 277 (“Mr Louis H. Silver”)
Nixon, op. cit., p.151 (as by the Cupid’s Bow Binder”)


(7) Saint Justin Martyr, Les euvres de sainct Justin Philosophe & Martyr, mises de Grec en langage François, par Ian De Maumont (Paris: Michel de Vascosan, July 1559)

provenance
● Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle (1515-1572), supralibros
● unidentified owner, inscription “De Jouy” (18C) [a comte de Jouy, or perhaps a comte de Joigny (a Sainte-Maure title)]
● Jacques-Joseph Techener, Paris
● H. Lechat & Léon Techener with Auguste Aubry, Catalogue de livres anciens et modernes, rares et curieux, provenant de la librairie de Jacques-Joseph Techener Père. Troisième partie, Paris, 4-7 April 1865, lot 1585 (“in-fol. réglé, veau fauve, comp., tranches dorées et ciselées. Volume d’une parfaite conservation, revêtu d’une magnifique reliure exécutée au seizième siècle, par le relieur de Grolier ou de Maioli, pour Louys de Sainte Maure, marquis de Nelle et comte de Joigny … La reliure de ce beau livre a été reproduite par la gravure à l’eau-forte, pour l’Histoire de la Bibliophilie, planche VIII.”)
● unidentified owner - bought in sale (FF 2300)
● François-Florentin-Achille, baron Seillière (1813-1873), Château de Mello
● Maurice Delestre & Charles Porquet, Catalogue de livres rares et précieux, manuscrits et imprimés, composant la bibliothèque de feu M. le baron Ach. S******, Paris, 5-14 May 1890, lot 28
● Francis Greppe, Paris - bought in sale (FF 197)
● Robert Hoe (1839-1909)
● Anderson Galleries, Catalogue of the library of Robert Hoe of New York. Part I: A to K, New York, 24-28 April 1911, lot 331
● unidentified owner - bought in sale ($1050)
● Édouard Rahir, Paris
● Henri Baudoin & Fernand Lair-Dubreuil with Francisque Lefrançois, La bibliothèque de feu Édouard Rahir, ancien libraire. Première partie: livres anciens du XVe au XIXe siècle; riches reliures anciennes, la plupart de provenances royales, personnages et amateurs célèbres, Paris, 7-9 May 1930, lot 119 [link]
● Maggs Bros, London - bought in sale (FF 78,000)
● Edmée Maus (1905-1971), exlibris
● Michel Wittock (1936-2020)
● Christie’s Paris, Collection Michel Wittock. Troisième partie, Reliures françaises de la Renaissance, Paris, 7 October 2005, lot 28 (unsold; estimate €80,000-120,000)
● Alde, Collection Michel Wittock. Sixième partie: Cinq siècles d’art et d’historie en France à travers le livre et sa reliure, Paris, 12 November 2015, lot 9
● T. Kimball Brooker (purchased at the above sale via Robin Halwas) [Bibliotheca Brookeriana ID #2304; offered by Sotheby’s, Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library, New York, 11 October 2023, lot 54]

literature
Jacques-Joseph Techener, Histoire de la bibliophilie. Reliures, recherches sur les bibliothèques les plus célèbres d’amateurs, armorial des bibliophiles. Deuxième livraison (Paris 1861-1864), Pl. 8
Alphonse de Ruble, Notice des principaux livres manuscrits et imprimés, qui ont fait partie de l’exposition de l’art ancien au Trocadéro (Paris 1879), no. 189
Georges Duplessis, Exposition rétrospective de 1882 … Arts du bois, des tissus et du papier … Reproduction des principaux objets d’art exposés en 1882 à la 7e exposition de l’Union centrale des arts décoratifs (Paris 1882), p.165 no. 8 (among books lent by “M. le baron Raymond Seillière”: “Magnifique reliure à comp. exécutée pour Louis de Sainte Maure, marquis de Nelle" [link])
The catalogue of books from the libraries or collections of celebrated bibliophiles and illustrious persons of the past, with arms or devices upon the bindings exhibited at The Grolier Club in the month of January 1895 (New York 1895), no. 37
Robert Hoe, One hundred and seventy-six historic and artistic bookbindings dating from the fifteenth century to the present time pictured by etchings, artotypes, and lithographs after the originals selected from the library of Robert Hoe (New York 1895), no. 37 [link]
Carolyn Shipman, A catalogue of books printed in foreign languages before the year 1600, forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe (New York 1907), I, pp.291-292
Nixon, op. cit., p.151
Cinq siècles d’ornements dans le décor extérieur du livre, 1515-1983, catalogue succinct des reliures exposées à l’occasion de l’inauguration de la Bibliotheca Wittockiana (Brussels 1983), no. 33
Paul Culot, “Présence d’un bibliophile” in L’Œil: revue d’art mensuelle 348-349 (July-August 1984), pp.34-37 Fig. 10
Anthony Hobson & Paul Culot, Italian and French 16th-century bookbindings (Brussels 1991), no. 52
Paul Culot, “La reliure en Italie et en France” in Bibliotheca Wittockiana, Musea Nostra - 38 (Brussels 1996), p.33 (illustrated)
Une vie, une collection: cinq siècles d’art et d’histoire à travers le livre et sa reliure: exposition à la Bibliotheca Wittockiana du 10 octobre 2008 au 28 février 2009 (Dijon 2008), p.15 no. 5


(8) Polybius, Les Cinq premiers livres des Histoires de Polybe (Lyon: Jean des Tournes. 1558)

provenance
● Louis de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Nesle (1515-1572), supralibros
● Lichfield, Cathedral Library, BB40

literature
A catalogue of the printed books and manuscripts in the library of the cathedral church of Lichfield (London 1888), p.83 (“In fine contemporary gilt binding, painted in white, red, green, and blue, and lettered ‘Lois de Ste. Maure, Marquis de Nelle’.”)
Benedikt S. Benedikz, A New catalogue of printed books in the library of Lichfield Cathedral - 1998, p.313 (“Superb Grolieresque binding, for Louis de St Maur, Marquis de Nelle”) [online, link]
Margaret S.G. Mcleod, The cathedral libraries catalogue: books printed before 1701 in the libraries of the Anglican cathedrals of England and Wales: Books printed on the Continent of Europe. Pt. 2, L-Z (London 1998), P-1359

forgeries

(a) Lucanus, Pharsalia (Paris: Josse Bade, 1506)

provenance
● John Blacker (d. 1896)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of a remarkable collection of books in magnificent modern bindings formed by an amateur (Recently deceased), London, 11 November 1897, lot 62 (“brown calf, ornamental back, the sides covered with elaborate geometrical line and floriate scrolls in black and gold, with name ‘Loys de Sainct-Maure’ in upper cover and motto in the under, edges gilt, gauffred and painted in ornaments” [link]) [RBH Nov111897-62]
● Bernard Quaritch, London - bought in sale (£10)


(b) Gaius Iulius Solinus, Rervm Toto Orbe Memorabilivm Thesaurus locupletissimus (Basel: Michael Isengrin, 1543)

provenance
● John Blacker (d. 1896)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of a remarkable collection of books in magnificent modern bindings formed by an amateur (Recently deceased), London, 11 November 1897, lot 94 (“ruled in red … brown calf, sides inlaid with ornamental scroll frames and fleurons in various colours, within an outer border of red, name, ‘Loys de sainct maure’ on upper cover and motto, ‘Invia virtutis nulla est via’ on the under, gilt and ornamental gauffred edges” [link]) [RBH Nov111897-94]
● Sabin - bought in sale (£11 5s)
● Anderson Galleries, Selections from the private library of the late George Merryweather … and others, New York, 19-20 November 1930, lot 260 (“An immaculate copy in a Grolieresque binding. Woodcuts maps and floriated initials. Folio, old brown calf, gilt tooled back, sides ornamented with a pattern composed of interlaced strapwork and scrolls painted in white, green, blue, red, and yellow, with small ornaments tooled in gilt; the front cover carries the legend Loys de Saincte Maure, and the back cover the motto In via virtuti nulla est via; gilt gauffered edges.”) [RBH 3864-260]
● unidentified owner - bought in sale ($55)