Les Mémoires – Philippe de Comines – 1682 | Louis XI France History

“Les mémoires de Philippe Comines” is considered one of the first works of critical modern history. “Memoirs” reveal many of the faults and scandals of the reign of Louis XI. Even though Commines supported the king, the content of the ‘Memoirs’ portrays Louis XI negatively. Commines and this work are considered one of the primary sources of 15th-century European history.  In addition to the court of Louis XI, Commines discusses Italian wars during the reign of Charles VIII of France. This two volume 1682 edition was published in La Haye, edited by Denys Godefroy. The second volume is Godefroy’s extension of the “Memoirs” including testaments and other observations not included in the main ‘memoirs’.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Les mémoires de messire Philippe Comines, seigneur d’Argenton contenans l’histoire des roys Louys XI et Charles VIII, depuis l’an 1464 jusques en 1498 Reveus et corrigez sur divers manuscrits et anciennes impressions
• Author(s): Philippe de Commynes
• Contributor(s): Denys Godefroy (Editor)
• Publisher: A La Haye: Arnout Leers
• Edition: Dernière édition, 1682
• Format: (12mo), two volumes
• Binding: Full leather
• Size:  6.5 in x 4 in (16.5 cm x 10.2 cm)
• Collation:
  • Vol. I: 600, [14]pp;
  • Vol. II: 401pp
• Contents Include:
  • Memoirs of Philippe de Commynes
  • Louis XI’s reign
  • Charles VIII and Italy
• Illustrations: 4 engravings
  • Folding chart
  • Portrait engravings:
    • Commynes
    • Louis XI
    • Charles Le Hardy
• Provenance: bookplate – LUYT (modern pastedown)

Condition:

Bound in original leather with rubbing to edges and corners. Hinges remain sound. A few leaves in one volume are detached but included. Text block is clean and complete with expected toning.

Why Collect This?

• Printed in 1682 by Arnout Leers at The Hague
• Political source text from a first-hand court insider
• Covers late 15th-century France and Italy with portrait engravings

Item Number: # 28968