*ARRAS (Jean d').
Newly printed melusine.
Troyes: Nicolas Oudot, 1624 [1625]. - In-4, 204 x 150 : (68 ff.). Jansenist red morocco, spine ribbed, interior gilt lace, gilt edges (Petit).
Extremely rare popular edition of the famous novel Mélusine by Jean d'Arras, the first published in Troyes by Nicolas Oudot.
This edition is often cited without ever having seen it, knowing only that it was in the Oudot catalog. No copies appear to be in French public libraries.
The edition is dated 1624 on the title but bears a completion of printing of 1625. The illustration includes 41 woodcuts, including a large one on the title, repeated on folio Q1 recto, and 40 in the text, several of which are also repeated. These engravings are not homogeneous and are reuses as was customary in popular editions.
This novel will have a lasting success within the blue library of Troyes, with 10 editions published until 1730.
Very nice copy, washed, in full Petit binding, perfectly preserved.
Lower margin of folio H4 cut, grazing the last line of the text on the front.
Provenance: bookplate M.G.- Bourlon de Rouvre, with bookplate.