[Literature] Bartas, Guillaume de Salluste du. Bartas His Devine Weekes & Workes...

London: Humphray Lownes, (1608, taken from colophon). Second collected edition. 4to. (xxxii), 544, 193, (23), 96, (8) pp. Translated by Josiah Sylvester. Illustrated with an engraved architectural title-page by William Hole, engraved portrait of Bartas, as well as numerous in-text engravings. 19th century three-quarter speckled brown sheep over marbled paper-covered boards, red morocco spine label, stamped in gilt, joints worn and starting, spine dry with label lifting, boards rubbed and soiled, tips and spine ends dry and chipping; edges stained yellow; old ownership signature on front paste-down ("M. Davis"); 19th century manuscript on recto and verso of front free endpaper, being a brief description of Bartas' life (taken from Rees's Cyclopædia); old gift inscription on front blank recto ("B.V. French from G.F.G."), Davis' signature on verso of same; title-page remargined and worn with loss at top, manuscript at bottom of same ("1613"); ownership signature along fore-edge of A2r ("William Brattle's Booke, Anno 1677"); approx. 3 1/2 inch closed tear in top edge Y1; contemporary ownership signature in top edge Q8r, old inscription verso of same; Brattle's ownership signature 3X3v; 17th century ownership signature 3X4r ("Jn. Hudson), contemporary manuscript on verso of same; scattered dampstaining and soiling throughout; scattered edge-wear. From the family libraries from Americana collectors and bibliophiles Amor L. and Zachary T. Hollingsworth. ESTC S116463; Grolier 243

Guillaume de Salluste du Bartas (1544-1590) was a Gascon Huguenot courtier and poet who served in the court of Henri of Navarre. This work, his most well known, is an epic poem on the creation of the world, written in 1578, and first translated into English by Josiah Sylvester in 1605. While his influence in France waned after his death, he had a more profound impact in Protestant England, influencing the likes of Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, and John Milton.

Rare to auction, according to RBH this is only the seventh copy ever offered. ESTC locates only four complete copies in the United States.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.