Some thirty bindings are now associated with the bibliophile scholar Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (ca 1538-1611). The great majority are covered in red or olive goatskin, decorated in the centres (occasionally also in the corners, and on the spine) by four gilt stars of either five or eight points, arranged one above two above one, and enclosed by a laurel wreath. In the past, these “reliures à quatre étoiles” were credited by booksellers to anonymous binders working for Jacques-Auguste de Thou (“in Thuanus’s manner”) and to the French court binders Nicolas and Clovis Ève (“Clovis Eve style”), with their provenance unrecognised. While the identities of the binders remain ambiguous, the individual commissioning them is now identifiable from variants of the ownership inscription “Ex Libris Iacobi Marii Ambosii” present in at least nine of the recorded volumes.

Ownership inscription in 5. Ex Libris Iacobi Marii Ambosii

Ownership inscriptions in 19. Ex libris J.Marii Ambosii - socii sorbonici quos legavit bibliothecae

Ownership inscriptions in 20. ex-libris M.N. Jacobii Marii Ambosii doctoris theologi et socii hujus domus

Ownership inscription in 32. Ex libris Jacobi Marii Ambosii

Jacques-Marie d’Amboise was born at Arles in Provence and died in Paris in November 1611, aged 73.¹ Little is known of his parentage and education. In his inaugural oration as rector of the University of Paris, d’Amboise declares that he had studied in Paris in the Faculty of Arts, and during a lengthy period abroad (per multos annos) completed in Italy two courses in philosophy (in Italia duos philosophiae cursus confecissem);² further study in Spain and Sicily, following instruction from “the best tutors of Paris”, is attested by the Scottish professor at the Collège royal George Crichton.³ Where, and when, d’Amboise earned the degree philosophiae doctor that is ascribed to him on the title-page of his Oratio is still a mystery.⁴ He might be the “Marius Ambosius Gallus Arelatensis [this word filled in later], scolaris Perusiae universalis” entered in the matriculation register at Perugia, 29 November 1570;⁵ if so, d’Amboise made his peregrinatio academica unusually late in life (aged 32, if he indeed was born in 1538). It is doubtful that he is the “giovane francese chiamato Mario”, in possession of “buone lettere greche e latine, et assai intelligenza delle cose di logica et filosofia, et è d’ingegno svegliato”, who in 1569 became involved in the prosecution of the Torinese bookseller Cesare Farina for selling heretical books.⁶

After his return to Paris, Jacques-Marie taught at the Collège de Lisieux, Collège d’Harcourt,⁷ and Collège Sainte-Barbe,⁸ before receiving in 1576 an appointment as rector of the Faculté des arts, and in 1577 as Lecteur royal de philosophie grecque et latine au Collège royal.⁹ His significant publications were Institutionum dialecticarum libri tres (1577), to which the poeta regius Jean Dorat contributed ten distichs;¹⁰ and De Rebus creatis et earum creatore (1586), including a poem in Greek offered by the royal professor of Greek, Nicolas Goulu.¹¹

The first part of De Rebus creatis is entitled “De sphaera mundi” and devoted to the visible heavens, with the sun as king of the stars, whose light symbolises the life-giving power of the spirit, a notion deeply rooted in the Platonic philosophy.¹² D’Amboise was non-armigerous, and the device he chose to ornament his bindings - a constellation of four stars - might well be a depiction of the four cardinal virtues as formulated by Plato, which often are represented by celestial bodies in both artistic and literary contexts.

The philosopher Guillaume Du Val (ca 1572-1646), successor to d’Amboise as Lecteur ordinaire du roi en philosophie grecque et latine, and first historian of the Collège royal, comments on d’Amboise’s appreciation of books (“curieux de beaux & bons liures, desquels il auoit grande quantité, mais lés plus gentiment & richement reliez, qu’on ayt gueres veu”) and the posthumous disposition of his library (“Il donna sa Bibliotheque à sa bien-aymée Mere la Sorbonne”).¹³

No inventory of books gifted by d’Amboise to the Sorbonne is known, but we expect that the short List given below is no more than a small fraction of his library. When the Sorbonne was closed along with other colleges of the University of Paris during the French Revolution, its library (said to number some 25,000 volumes) was dispersed, some books distributed to other libraries, and others sold. About half the books in our List contain inscriptions or the later ink stamp of the Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne. Among them is a revision by Pierre de Besse of La Saincte Bible (Paris 1608), dedicated to Henri IV (no. 7 in our List below). D’Amboise was one of five theologians who reviewed and approved the new text (folio **1 verso: “Approbation des Docteurs en Theologie”; D’Amboise’s declaration is dated 23 June 1608, and identifies him as “Iacq. Marivs D’Amboise, Doyen des Lecteurs & Professeurs ordinaires du Roy, en son Vniversité de Paris”).¹⁴ Another volume (no. 5), sumptuously bound à la fanfare, contains no evidence that it passed to the Sorbonne. It is copy of Plantin’s 1583 Latin Bible, evidently specially printed for d’Amboise, as passages relating to Jacob (Jacques) are printed in gold.

provisional list of books

(1) Aristoteles, Opera [Greek; bound in six volumes] (Venice: Aldo Manuzio, 1495-1498)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611)
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794)
● Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, RES-R-313/318 (opac Prov.: Jacques-Marius d’Amboise, 16e-17e siècles; legs à la Bibliothèque de l’ancienne Sorbonne à Paris, 1611 [link])

literature
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Catalogue des incunables, T.1, fasc. 1. Xylographes et A (Paris 1985), pp.117-120 A-504


(2) Aristoteles, Ethikon nikomacheion biblia deka. Ethicorum ad Nicomachum libri decem (Frankfurt am Main: Heirs of Andreas Wechel, Claude de Marne & Johann Aubry, 1596)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Joannes Gennadius (1844-1932)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of the extensive and valuable library of manuscripts & printed books of His Excellency Monsieur John Gennadius, D.C.L., F.R.S.I., late Greek Minister at the court of St. James’s, London, 28 March-7 April 1895, lot 279 (“old brown morocco, in the De Thou style, ruled in lines, with cartouches in centre and corners, containing device of four stars, gilt edges” [link])
● J. & J. Leighton, London - bought in sale (£1 13s)
● Henry White, FSA (1822?-1900)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of the valuable and extensive library of printed books and illuminated & other important manuscripts of the late Henry White, London, 21 April 1902, lot 73 (“old French brown morocco, line tooled, with 4 stars on back and centre laurel wreath, and corners with 4 stars, g. e. (style of De Thou)” [link])
● William Ridler, London - bought in sale (£1 8s)
● Puttick & Simpson, Catalogue of valuable books, London, 25-26 January 1906, lot 48 (“contemporary French morocco, sides decorated with centre laurel wreath, gilt panel, and corner fleurons of wreaths and stars, gilt lines and stars on back, g.e. (style of Dethon)”)
● J. & J. Leighton, London - bought in sale (£2 5s) (Book Prices Current, 20, no. 2497 [link])
● Henry Benjamin Wheatley (1838-1917)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of the magnificent library formed by the late H.B. Wheatley, Esq. F.S.A., London, 8-12 April 1918, lot 32 (“Brown morocco, gilt lines and stars on back, line sides with corner and centre oval laurel wreaths, each enclosing four stars, g.e. (style of Clovis Eve)” [link]) [RBH Apr081918-32]
● James Rimell, London - bought in sale (£4 7s 6d) (Book Auction Records, 15, p.277)


(3-4) Bible, Latin - Biblia sacra ad optima quaeque veteris, ut vocant, tralationis exemplaria summa diligentia, parique fide castigata. His adjecimus Hebraicarum, Graecarum, caetarumque; peregrinarum vocum, cum illarum varia à nostra prolatione, interpretationem. Indices insuper tres, quibus res, ac sententiae, annotationes ex sacris doctoribus selectae, locorumque insignium descriptio complectumtur (Lyon: Sébastien Gryphe, 1550)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros, inscription
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794)
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Rés. 2° 623 B-C (opac Reliure à la fanfare en maroquin rouge. Ex-libris ms “Ex libris JMarii Ambrosii” sur la p. de titre. Cachet “College de Sorbonne” sur la p. de titre. Exemplaire réglé. [link])

literature
Martine Delaveau & Denise Hillard, Bibles imprimées du XVe au XVIIIe siècle conservées à Paris (Paris 2002), no. 871 (“Rel. en 2 vol. … Rel. à décor doré aux armes de Jacques Marius d’Amboise. Cachet: collège de Sorbonne, à Paris”)


(5) Bible, Latin - Biblia sacra. Quid in hac editione a theologis Lovaniensibus praestitum sit eorum præfatio indicat (Antwerp: Christophe Plantin, 1583)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros, inscription on title-page
● Librairie Damascène Morgand, Paris; their Bulletin mensuel, no. 42 - Novembre 1897 (Paris 1897), item 30056 (FF 3000; “Exemplaire recouvert d’une reliure extraordinaire de richesse… Dans un écusson réservé au milieu des plats, sont placées 4 étoiles encadrées de branches de feuillages. Ces étoiles pourraient servir à déterminer la provenance de ce beau volume.” [link]); Bulletin mensuel, no. 49 - Février 1900 (Paris 1900), item 37691 (FF 2500; [link])
● Antiquariat Heribert Tenschert / Antiquariat Bibermühle, Ramsen; their Katalog 48: Biblia Sacra: Das Buch der Bücher, 180 Manuskripte und Drucke vom 13. bis zum 20. Jahrhundert aus den Bibliotheken von J.-M. d'Ambrose… [et al.] (Ramsen 2004), item 48 (“The copy was especially printed for its first owner, Jacques-Marius d’Amboise… In the New Testament the sequences relating to Jacob (=Jacques) are printed in gold, a clear indication of the designation of the volume; the titlepage bears d’Amboise’s autograph inscription.”); Antiquariat Bibermühle, Katalog 90: Wunder-kammer: Herz der Bibliophilie: Glanzlichter aus dem Spiegelkabinett des 16. Jahrhunderts, II: Manuskripte, Drucke auf Pergament, Illumination & Illustration, Original-Ausgaben, Schöne Einbände, Provenienzen (Ramsen 2023), II, pp.889-894 item 96 [link])


(6) Bible, Latin - Textus Biblie cu[m] glosa ordinaria Nicolai de Lyra postilla moralitatibus eiusdem Pauli Burgensis additio[n]ibus Matthie Thoring replicis (Basel: Johann Froben, 1506-1508)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros, inscription
● Gilles Desmoreaulx, inscription, “Egidius Desmoreaulx”
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Rés. 2° 753 I (opac Réglé. Ex-libris ms.: “Egidius Desmoreaulx”, du couvent de Senlis. Rel. aux armes et ex-libris ms. de Jacques Marius d’Amboise. Cachet: collège de Sorbonne, à Paris [link])

literature
Martine Delaveau & Denise Hillard, Bibles imprimées du XVe au XVIIIe siècle conservées à Paris (Paris 2002), no. 769


(7) Bible, French - La Saincte Bible; contenant le Vieil & Nouveau Testament, en latin selon l’edition vulgaire, & en francois de la traduction des docteurs catholiques de l’université de Louvain. Avec les figures & argumens sur chacun livre & chapitre, declarans sommairement tout ce qui y est contenu. Le tout reveu & fidelement corrigé suyvant l’edition imprimée à Rome par le commandement de N.S.P. le pape Sixte V (Paris: Rolin Thierry, Nicolas du Fossé & Pierre Chevalier, 1608)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Rés. 2° 657 J (opac v. estamp. a fil. dor., reliure aux armes de Jacques Marius d’Amboise. Cachet de la bibliothèque de la Sorbonne [link])

literature
Martine Delaveau & Denise Hillard, Bibles imprimées du XVe au XVIIIe siècle conservées à Paris (Paris 2002), no. 598


(8) Bible, Spanish - La Biblia, que es, los sacros libros del Viejo y Nuevo Testamento. Trasladada en español (Basel: Samuel Apiarius for Thomas Guérin, 1569)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Rés. 4° A 12949 (opac Rel. aux armes de Jacques Marius d’Amboise. Cachet: collège de Sorbonne, à Paris [link])

literature
Martine Delaveau & Denise Hillard, Bibles imprimées du XVe au XVIIIe siècle conservées à Paris (Paris 2002), no. 302


(9) Biblia, NT - Tēs Kainēs Diathēkēs apanta. Euaggelion kata Matthaion. Kata Markon. Kata Loukan. Kata Iōannen. Praxeis tōn Apostolōn. Novum Jesu Christi D.N. Testamentum. Ex Bibliotheca regia [in Greek] (Paris: Ex Officina Robert Estienne, 1550)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros, inscription
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp
● Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Fol T-197 (opac Exemplaire réglé. Rel. maroquin rouge, triple filet doré, couronne de laurier au centre des plats; dos long à plein décor doré de laurier au naturel. Ex-libris ms. au titre: Jacques-Marie d’Amboise. Cachet: collège de Sorbonne, à Paris [link])

literature
Martine Delaveau & Denise Hillard, Bibles imprimées du XVe au XVIIIe siècle conservées à Paris (Paris 2002), no. 3690


(10) Antonio Brucioli, Dialogi di Antonio Brucioli della morale philosophia [part 2: Dialogi di Antonio Brucioli della naturale philosophia humana; part 3: Dialogi di Antonio Brucioli delea [!] naturale philosophia; part 4: Dialogi di Antonio Brucioli della metaphisicale philosophia (Venice: Alessandro Brucioli & fratelli [Francesco Brucioli & Brothers, part 4], 1544-1545), bound with: Antonio Brucioli, Dialogi di Antonio Brucioli, libro quinto (Venice: [Bartolomeo Zanetti], 1538)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros, inscription on title-page (of first work) “Ex libris Jacobi Marii Ambosii Arelatensis”
● Sir Mark Masterman Sykes, 3rd Bt (1771-1823), exlibris, inscription on front free endpaper (“Bought at Paris. Aug. 19. 1821. MMS”)
● R.H. Evans, Catalogue of the splendid, curious, and extensive library of the late Sir Mark Masterman Sykes, Bart. Part the first, London, 11-23 May 1824, lot 562 (“in fine old morocco, in Thuanus’s manner” [link])
● Thomas Thorpe, London - bought in sale (£3 16s 6d)
● Richard Heber (1773-1833), inkstamp, purchase note at Sykes sale
● Sotheby & Son, Bibliotheca Heberiana. Catalogue of the library of the late Richard Heber. Part I, London, 10 April-9 May 1834, lot 1189 (“in old Venetian morocco” [link])
● Thomas Thorpe, London - bought in sale (18s)
● Sydney Richardson Christie-Miller (1874-1931)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of a collection of rare and valuable books and tracts chiefly Latin, French and Italian of the XVth and early XVIth centuries many in original bindings, London, 31 July-3 August 1917, lot 240 (“old French olive morocco, line tooled, stars on back, rich gilt tooled leafy scrolls in corners, centre and corner ovals enclosing four stars in each, g. e. (Clovis Eve) … inscription on title: ‘Ex-libris Jacobi Marii Amboisii Arelatensis,’ formerly Heber’s and Sir M. M. Sykes’s copy”) [RBH Jul311917-240] [De Ricci, English collectors, p.111 identifies this as a Christie-Miller Britwell Court sale]
● Maggs Bros, London - bought in sale (£7 5s); their Catalogue 369: Rare and beautiful books, manuscripts and bindings (London 1918), item 51 (“Very fine copy, bound by Clovis Eve in French olive morocco, sides beautifully decorated in gold, with leafy scrolls, stars, etc., gold stars on back, g.e.” [link]) [RBH 369-51]
● Robert Oppenheim
● Anderson Galleries, The library of Mr. Robert Oppenheim, New York City, sold by his order: attractive bindings by Derome, Clovis Eve and others, New York, 15 February 1927, lot 16 (“by Clovis Eve … with the Heber Library stamp and the M.M. Sykes bookplate” [link])
● unidentified owner - bought in sale ($40) (American Book Prices Current, 33, p.82)
● Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable printed books, London, 11-14 February 1929, lot 537 (lots 525-552 offered as “Other Properties”; “finely bound in contemporary olive morocco, panelled sides with leafy oval at each corner containing four stars, corner ornaments made up of leafy sprays, a double oval centre compartment, the outer plan, the inner leafy, and enclosing four seven-pointed stars, panelled back decorated with stars, g.e. Heber-Mark Masterman Sykes copy, in very good condition” [link])
● Maggs Bros, London - bought in sale (£5 10s) (Book Prices Current, 43, p.135)
● Jean Fürstenberg (1890-1982)
● Martin Breslauer Inc., New York; their Catalogue 104/II: Fine books in fine bindings from the fourteenth to the present century (New York 1981), item 193 ($7500); Catalogue 110: Fine books and manuscripts in fine bindings from the fifteenth to the present century followed by literature on bookbindings (New York 1992), item 58 ($12,000)
● T. Kimball Brooker, purchased from the above in 1992 [Bibliotheca Brookeriana #2162]
● Sotheby’s, Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library, Part VII, London, 11 July 2025, lot 1613

literature
Exposition de reliures de la Renaissance: collection Jean Furstenberg: 30 September 1961 (Paris 1961), no. 22


(11) Marcus Tullius Cicero, Orationum volumen secundum, collatis libris manuscriptis, et adhibito judicio diligenter emendatum (Paris: Robert Estienne, 1543)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Maggs Bros, London; their Catalogue 713: European literature: a catalogue of books, manuscripts, & letters arranged by languages and periods, Part I: Greek and Latin writers (London 1942), item 734 (£3 10s; “3 vols. Vol. 1, contemporary calf, gilt centre-piece and tooled back of leafy sprays; vols. 2 and 3 contemporary French red morocco, finely tooled with gilt filets and oval centre-piece of leafy sprays, backs also decorated with leafy sprays, g.e. (Clovis Eve style) … Volume I slightly smaller and somewhat soiled; Vols. II and III are large, attractive copies, finely bound”) [RBH 713-734]
● Sotheby’s, Continental printed books, manuscripts and music, London, 28-29 May 1992, lot 38 (“ruled in red throughout, device on titles, Parisian binding of the second half of the sixteenth century, red morocco gilt, three-line border, an oval of leafy tendrils in the centre of the covers encloses 4 stars, flat spine decorated in the fanfare style with leafy tendrils around a quadrilobe containing the title … gilt edges … For another volume of the same edition identically bound, see the sale in our rooms, 28 June 1991, lot 514”) [RBH ASCENSION-38]
● unsold (estimate £900-1200)


(12) Marcus Tullius Cicero, Orationum volumen tertium, post omnes omnium editiones accuratissime emendatum (Paris: Robert Estienne, 1543)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Maggs Bros, London; their Catalogue 713: European literature: a catalogue of books, manuscripts, & letters arranged by languages and periods, Part I: Greek and Latin writers (London 1942), item 734 (“3 vols. Vol. 1, contemporary calf, gilt centre-piece and tooled back of leafy sprays; vols. 2 and 3 contemporary French red morocco, finely tooled with gilt filets and oval centre-piece of leafy sprays, backs also decorated with leafy sprays, g.e. (Clovis Eve style) … Volume I slightly smaller and somewhat soiled; Vols. II and III are large, attractive copies, finely bound”) [RBH 713-734]


(13-14) Marcus Tullius Cicero, De philosophia, prima pars, id est, academicarum quaestionum editionis primae liber secundus (Paris: Robert Estienne, 1543) - Marcus Tullius Cicero, De philosophia volumen secundum, id est, de natura deorum libri III. De divinatione libri II, de fato liber I. De legibus libri III. De universitate liber I. De petitione consulatus ad Marcum fratrem liber (Paris: Robert Estienne, 1543)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Henry Benjamin Wheatley (1838-1917)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of the magnificent library formed by the late H.B. Wheatley, Esq. F.S.A., London, 8-12 April 1918, lot 10 (“2 vol. large and fine copy, ruled in red … Dark red morocco, the backs covered with gilt laurel branch scrolls, line sides, with centre laurel wreath enclosing four stars. (Style of Clovis Eve.)” [link]) [RBH Apr081918-10]
● Francis Edwards - bought in sale (£7 10s) (Book Auction Records, 15, p.309 [link])


(15) Marcus Tullius Cicero, Epistolae familiares diligentius quam hactenus exierunt emendatae (Paris: Robert Estienne, 1550)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable printed books, fine illuminated manuscripts, autograph letters & historical documents, London, 14-16 June 1937, lot 631 (“early 16th century [!] red morocco, three-line fillet round sides, design in centre of foliage on an oval frame surrounding four stars, the spine without bands tooled to a graceful design of foliage, g.e.”) [lots 627-636 offered as “The Property of a Gentleman”; RBH 14Jun1937-631]
● unidentified owner, “Robeyr” - bought in sale (£5 10s)


(16) Marcus Tullius Cicero, Epistolae ad Atticum, ad Marcum Brutum, ad Quintum fratrem, summa diligentia castigatae, in easdem epistolas scholia, quibus abditi locorum sensus ostenduntur, cum explicatione castigationum (Paris: Robert Estienne, 1543)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● unidentified owner, inscription “H. Emly” dated 1807 on endleaf [perhaps the Henry Emly, Lincoln’s Inn, a Freemason, fl. 1850s; or Henry Emly, mayor of Salisbury, 1818]
● Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921), exlibris
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of the extensive and valuable library the property of the late Michael Tomkinson, Esq., of Franche Hall, Kidderminster. The second and final portion, London, 3-7 July 1922, lot 1271 (“red-ruled, old French red morocco gilt, line borders, centre ornament of leafy sprays, back filled with sprays, g.e. (Clovis Eve)” [link])
● Davis & Orioli, London - bought in sale (£1 2s) (Book Auction Records, 19, p.628 [link])
● Stavros John Papastavrou (d. 1979) [Cambridge University Lecturer in Medieval and Modern Greek Language and Literature, 1947-1979; Fellow of Peterhouse, 1963]
● Maggs Bros, London; their Catalogue 1111: Early Printed Books and Manuscripts (London 1990), item 36 (£2000; “Late 16th century red morocco, in centre of sides a device of four stars within a wreath of laurel leaves on thin stems, triple gilt fillet, spine filled with sprays of branches of laurel leaves and with the abbreviated title stamped in gilt within a cartouche … A fine 16th century binding which can be shown to have been executed by Nicholas Eve, Claude de Picques’ successor as royal binder. The laurel wreath device on the centre of the sides also appears on a Nicolas Eve binding which is reproduced as plate LX in volume one of Roger Devauchelle’s La reliure en France (Paris, 1959).”)
● Sotheby’s, Valuable printed books, London, 27-28 June 1991, lot 514 (“Parisian binding of the second half of the sixteenth century, red morocco gilt, three-line border, an oval of leafy tendrils in the centre of the covers encloses 4 stars, 2 small scrapes on upper cover, flat spine decorated in the fanfare style with leafy tendrils around a quadrilobe compartment containing the title, gilt edges, bookplate of Michael Tomkinson … This is an unusually early example of a spine title, cf. A.R.A. Hobson, Supplément to G.D. Hobson, Les reliures à la fanfare, Amsterdam, 1970, p.17.”) [RBH Aurora-514]
● T. Kimball Brooker, purchased at above via Martin Breslauer, Inc. [Bibliotheca Brookeriana #2131]
● Sotheby’s, Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library, Part V, London, 10 December 2024, lot 1057


(17) Nicolas Cleynaerts, Institutiones ac meditationes in græcam linguam, N. Clenardo authore, cum scholiis et praxi P. Antesignani Rapistagnensis (Lyon: Jérémie Des Planches [of Geneva] for Antoine Gryphe, 1581 [1580])

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● unidentified owner, initials “SY” at the foot of title-page
● Joseph Baer & Co., Frankfurt am Main
● Paul Hirsch (1881-1951), exlibris
● Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable printed books, autograph letters & historical documents, Oriental manuscripts & miniatures, London, 10 July 1950, lot 209 (“in the centre of each cover within an oval frame five stars [!] surrounded by a wreath, repeated in a smaller form at the outer angles of the panels, panelled back, with two groups of four stars in the top and bottom compartments, and groups of four stars in three other compartments … Almost certainly by one of De Thou’s binders”) [offered among “Other Properties”; RBH TURF-209]
● Maggs Bros, London - bought in sale (£20); their Catalogue 830: Printing, illustration, binding & illumination: a classified catalogue of books and manuscripts XIVth to XIXth centuries (London 1955), item 71a (£31 10s; “contemporary French olive morocco gilt, panelled sides, in the centre of each cover within an oval frame four stars surrounded by a wreath, repeated in a smaller form at the outer angles of the panels, panelled back, with two groups of 4 stars in the top and bottom compartments, and a group of 4 stars in three others”) [RBH 830-71a]
● Jean Fürstenberg (1890-1982)
● Fondation Fürstenberg-Beaumesnil, Beaumesnil (Mesnil-en-Ouche)
● Wemaëre-de Beaupuis-Denesle Enchères SARL & Binoche et Giquello, Livres et objets d’art provenant des collections de la Fondation Fürstenberg-Beaumesnil, Paris, 9 December 2013, lot 117 (“maroquin olive, double encadrement de trois filets dorés, armoiries dans un ovale de feuillages, petites aux angles et les mêmes, plus grandes, au centre dans un médaillon, dos orné de caissons avec des pièces d’armes répétées, filet intérieur, tranches dorées (Reliure de l’époque). [link])
● T. Kimball Brooker, acquired at the above [Bibliotheca Brookeriana #2385]
● Sotheby’s, Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library, Part VII, London, 11 July 2025, lot 1630

literature
Leo Baer, “Aus unserer Einbändesammlung. IV. Französische Renaissance-Einbände” in Frankfurter Bücherfreund 12 (1914), Heft 2/3, p.212 (“Auf den Deckeln des auf Tafel XLIa abgebildeten Einbandes findet sich nur eine doppelte Reihe von drei Fileten und in der Mitte ein Medaillon, das vier von zwei Lorbeerreisern umgebene Sterne enthält. Diese Embleme füllen auch die Ecken der Deckel und den Rücken. Wem der außerordentlich gut gearbeitete olivgrüne Maroquinband gehört hat, konnten wir nicht feststellen.” [link]) & Tafel XLIa ([link])
Exposition de reliures de la Renaissance: collection Jean Furstenberg: 30 September 1961 (Paris 1961), no. 34 (“emblème de possesseur non identifié”)


(18) Demosthenes, Logoi, kai prooimia dēmēgorika, kai epistolai, syn tais exēgesesin ōphelimotatais, tou Oulpianou rētoros. Orationes cum commentariis Ulpiani opera et studio Guilhelmi Morelii, adjecta est vita Demosthenis (Paris: Paris, Jean Bienné for Jacques du Puys, 1570)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Thorold, family library (Syston Park)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of an important portion of the extensive & valuable library of the late Sir John Hayford Thorold, bart., removed from Syston Park, Lincolnshire, London, 12-19 December 1884, lot 668 (“large paper, fine copy in old French red morocco, back floriated in gold, gilt edges, with wreath enclosing 4 stars stamped in gold on sides” [link])
● Sotherans, London - bought in sale (£2 8s)
● Christie Manson & Woods, Catalogue of printed books … to be sold for the benefit of the Joint War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, London 24-25 July 1940, lot 2578
● Charles J. Sawyer, London - bought in sale (£10 10s) (Book Auction Records, 37, p.321); their Catalogue 176 (London 1944), item 77 (“old French red morocco, the back handsomely decorated with a continuous pattern of entwined leafy sprays, and the sides with centre ornament of similar design forming a wreath enclosing four stars, tooled in gilt, gilt edges (probably by Clovis Eve), the Syston Park copy, with bookplate”) [RBH 176-77]


(19-20) St Ioannes Chrysostomus, Tou agiou Ioannou tou Chrysostomou Eis pasas tas Paulou tou apostolou epistolas akribestate, kai chryse alethos, kai theia ermeneia. Diui Ioannis Chrysostomi In omnes Pauli apostoli epistolas accuratissima, uereque aurea, & diuina interpretation (Verona: Stefano Nicolini da Sabbio & fratelli, July 1529)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), inscription “Ex libris J.Marii Ambosii” (opac)
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp, inscription “socii sorbonici quos legavit bibliothecae” (opac)
● Paris, Bibliothèque de l'Institut de France, Fol F 24 (opac Reliure veau, filets dorés écusson central et écoinçons, tranches dorées. Exemplaire réglé. La reliure a été anciennement restaurée, le nouveau cuir du dos cache une partie de la dorure des plats … Ex-libris ms à l’encre dorée de Jacques Marie d’Amboise sur chacun des volumes. T.1-2: “Ex libris J.Marii Ambosii”. Cet ex-libris est complété à l’encre noire par la mention de legs à la bibliothèque de la Sorbonne “socii sorbonici quos legavit bibliothecae”. T. 3-4: “ex-libris M.N. Jacobii Marii Ambosii doctoris theologi et socii hujus domus”. Cachet de la bibliothèque de la Sorbonne [link])


(21) Flavius Josephus, Les sept livres de Flauius Iosephus de la guerre et captivité des Iuifz, traduitz de Grec, et mis en Francoys par N. de Herberay (Paris: Étienne Groulleau, November 1557)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), inscription
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp
● Cambridge, MA, Harvard University, Houghton Library, Typ 515.57.468 (opac, [link])

literature
Ruth Mortimer, Catalogue of books and manuscripts. Pt. 1, French 16th century books: Harvard College Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Arts (Cambridge 1964), no. 331 (“Contemporary limp vellum, two pairs of ties removed, with sixteenth century autograph of Jacques Marius d’Amboise and stamp of the Bibliothèque de Sorbonne”)


(22) Cornelio Musso, Prediche sopra Il simbolo de gli apostoli, Le due dilettioni, di Dio, e del prossimo, Il sacro decalogo, & La passione di nostro signor Giesu Christo (Venice: Giunta, 1601)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Rés. 4° A 13324 (opac reliure en maroquin rouge aux armes de Jacobus Marius Ambosius, sur la page de titre cachet de la Bibliothèque de Sorbonne [link])


(23-24) Cornelio Musso, Les Sermons tres-doctes et eloquens, de tres-Révérend P. Messire F. Corneille Musso evesque de Bitonte: faicts en diuers temps & diuers lieux, et mis par ordre, suiuant celuy de la derniere impression Italien… Mis d’Italien en François, par Gabriel Chappuys Tourangeau (Paris: Guillaume Chaudière, 1584) - Cornelio Musso, Les Sermons très-doctes et éloquens de très-Révérend P. Messire F. Corneille Musso evesque de Bitonte: Mis d’Italien en François par Gabriel Chappuys Tourangeau. Tome second (Paris: Guillaume Chaudière, 1584)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Rés. 8° 24666 2e ex, 8° 24667 2e ex (opac Marque de Jacques Marius d’Amboise sur les plats [link])


(25-26) Cornelio Musso, Les sermons tres-doctes et éloquens, de très-révérend Père Messire F. Corneille Musso, Evesque de Bitonte, mis d’italien en françois par Gabriel Chappuys, Tourangeau. Tome troisième (Paris: Guillaume Chaudière, 1586) - Cornelio Musso, … [Quatrieme et dernier] (Paris: Guillaume Chaudière, 1586)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Rés. 8° 42260-1, 8° 42260-2 (opac Marque de Jacques Marius d’Amboise sur les plats [link])


(27) Publius Terentius Afer, Terentius [Comoediae sex]. In singulas scenas argumenta, ferè ex Aelij Donati commentariis transcripta (Paris: Robert Estienne, 1550)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Charles Lenormand du Coudray (1712-1789), his cypher in red ink on title-page
● reputedly Bernard Skalli
● T. Kimball Brooker, purchased from the above, 2003 [Bibliotheca Brookeriana #2257]
● Sotheby’s, Bibliotheca Brookeriana: A Renaissance Library, Part V, London, 10 December 2024, lot 1214


(28) St Thomas Aquinas, Scripta super quarto libro Sententiarum Petri Lombardi (Venice: Boneto Locatello for Ottaviano Scoto, 23 May 1497), bound with: St Thomas Aquinas, Diui Thomae Aquinatis In tertio Sententiarum libro interpretatio et expositio sum. A Thimotheo Veronense canonico regulari theologie scientissimo perquam diligenter visa recognita: erroribusque purgata et quantum anniti ars potuit fideliter impressa (Venice: Heirs of Ottaviano Scoto for Boneto Locatello, April 1501)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Inc 929-2-2, 927-2-1 (opac Reliure exécutée pour Jacques Marius d’Amboise. Cachet de la Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne [link])

literature
Paul Marais, Catalogue des incunables de la Bibliothèque Mazarine (Paris 1893), pp.501-502 no. 929 (“reliure du XVIe siècle en veau fauve avec guirlandes de lauriers. Provenance de Sorbonne” [link])
Denise Hillard, Catalogues régionaux des incunables des bibliothèques publiques de France, volume VI: Bibliothèque Mazarine (Paris 1989), p.472 no. 1957 (“Relié avec le Commentum super tertio libro Sententiarum, imprimé par Locatello pour les héritiers de Scoto en 1501.”)


(29) St Thomas Aquinas, Scripta super primo libro Sententiarum Petri Lombardi (Venice: Boneto Locatello for Ottaviano Scoto, October 1498) – bound with: St Thomas Aquinas, Scripta super secundo libro Sententiarum Petri Lombardi (Venice: Boneto Locatello for Ottaviano Scoto, January 1498)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611)
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794)
● Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, Inc 929-1-1, Inc 929-1-2 (opac Jacques Marius d’Amboise; Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne)

literature
Paul Marais, Catalogue des incunables de la Bibliothèque Mazarine (Paris 1893), pp.501-502 no. 929 (“reliure du XVIe siècle en veau fauve avec guirlandes de lauriers. Provenance de Sorbonne” [link])
Denise Hillard, Catalogues régionaux des incunables des bibliothèques publiques de France, volume VI: Bibliothèque Mazarine (Paris 1989), pp.471-472 no. 1954 (“Relie avec 1955”), no. 1955 (“Relie avec 1954”)


(30) St Thomas Aquinas, Secundum scriptum appellatum, super quatuor libros sententiarum, ad Hannibaldum Hannibaldensem sanctae Romanae ecclesiae cardinalem (Paris: Guillaume Chaudière, 1574)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Felix Joseph Slade (1788-1868)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of the exceedingly choice and valuable library of the late Felix Slade, Esq., in magnificent specimens of binding, London, 3-8 August 1868, lot 1005 (“Beautiful specimen of Le Gascon’s binding in red morocco, sides and back covered with minute gold tooling in the best Grolier style, g.e.” [link])
● Boone, London - bought in sale (£5 5s)
● London, British Library, C.46.c.5 (purchase datestamp: 11 February [18]69)

literature
British Museum, A guide to the exhibition in the King’s library illustrating the history of printing, music-printing and bookbinding (London 1939), p.144 no. 27 & Pl. 33 (“red morocco, gold tooled to a ‘fanfare’ design, the central oval compartment containing four stars”)


(31) Jacques Toussain, Lexicon Graecolatinum, ingenti vocum accessione, locupletatum, scriptorumque laudatorum auctoritate plurimis in locis illustratum, et a vitiis quibus scatebat vindicatum (Paris: Charlotte Guillard, 1552)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), supralibros
● Henry Frederick (Thynne), 1st Baron Carteret of Hawnes (1735-1826), exlibris
● Francis John Thynne (1830-1910)
● Puttick & Simpson, Catalogue of a selection of valuable books from the library of Francis J. Thynne, Esq. (of Haynes Park, Bedfordshire), London, 15-17 April 1886, lot 586 (“old French red morocco, with device of four stars on sides back and corners, gilt edges”; catalogue preface: “All the books have the exlibris of Henry Frederick Thynne, Lord Carteret, who died 1826.”)
● J & J. Leighton - bought in sale (12s)
● Charles Butler (1821-1910)
● Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, The Charles Butler Collections. Catalogue of the fifth and final portion of the extensive and valuable library of the late Charles Butler, Esq. of Warren Wood, Hatfield, London, 25 February-5 March 1914, lot 4380 (“old French red morocco gilt, with device of four stars on sides; back and corners, g. e.” [link])
● J. & J. Leighton, London - bought in sale (£6 5s) (Book Auction Records, 11, p.249)
● Gilhofer & Ranschburg, Vienna; their Anzeiger 117: Seltene und Wertvolle Bücher 15-19. Jahrhunderts (Vienna [ca 1920]), item 332 (“Relié en maroquin rouge, comp. de filets dor.; au centre cartouche oval composé de filets courbes avec volutes contenant le motif connu de deux branches de laurier formant ovale et quatre étoiles. Cet emblème heraldique repeté aux angles et dans les compartiments du dos. Tranches dorés. Rel. XVI. siècle de la Conservation la plus belle. Ces ‘Reliures à quatre étoiles’ dont on n’a jusq’ à present pas pu determiner la provenance, sont toujours excellentes de facture et d’un gout irreprochable. Elles nous paraissent indubitablement sortir du même atelier que les premières reliures de Thou à ses armes de bachelier, que ça soit celui de Clovis Eve ou Nicolas Eve ou d’un autre relieur resté inconnu. Avec l’Ex-Libris de Lord Carteret.” [link]); Catalogue 168: Rare and valuable books [(Vienna [1939]), item 173 (“Ces ‘Reliures à quatre étoiles’ dont on n’a jusqu’à présent pas pu déterminer la provenance, sont toujours excellentes de facture et d’un goût irréprochable. Elles nous paraissent indubitablement sortir du même atelier que les premières”)


(32) Simon Vigor, Sermons catholiques, pour tous les jours de Caresme & feries de Pasques, faits en l’eglise S. Estienne du Mont à Paris, par feu de bonne memoire maistre Simon Vigor, docteur en theologie, n’agueres archevesque de Narbonne & predicateur du Roy (Paris: Sébastien Nivelle, 1588)

provenance
● Jacques-Marie d’Amboise (1538-1611), inscription
● Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne (until 1794), inkstamp, inscription
● Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, D-54496 (opac Rel. parchemin. Ex-libris ms. de Jacques Marie d’Amboise. Estampille et ex-libris ms. de la bibliothèque du Collège de Sorbonne, à Paris [link])