1540 Les Allumettes du feu Divin... Avec les Voyes de Paradis, Pierre Dore

Note: this is a partial copy, price reflects condition!

At the time of listing, only one 16th century copy of this work can be found on the market (using Vialibri), with a price tag over $2,000 USD (offered by Bonnefoe Livres Anciens).

Here are the most popular works of the 16th century Parisian Catholic Pierre Dore, Les Allumettes de Feu Divin... and Avec les Voyes de Paradis...

The title is roughly translated - "Matches of divine fire to kindle human hearts in the love of God".

Renouard states, “’Les Allumettes du feu divin’ is the most famous work of Pierre Doré, Dominican monk and confessor of the Dukes of Guise, who is classified among the literary madmen. Doré associated mysticism and bonhomie, spirituality and familiar objects - hence the strange titles of his books (this one, the most famous, but also the Pool of Patience, the Spiritual Deer, The Dove of Emptiness). Rabelais targeted this great enemy of the Reformed in Pantagruel, under the name of ‘Maistre Doribus’”. (ICP, V, p. 838)


This copy is missing 26 leaves. It is missing the first gathering (a1-8), B1, B8, C3, O3, X2, X4, and the last two gatherings (FF1-8 and GG1-4). The pagination, by the printer, was atrocious, but that (roughly) means it's missing pages 1-9, 16, 23, 121, 162, 164 and (numbering restarts with Paradis) 52-64.

NOTE: The manuscript title page and handwritten spine title describe this book as the 1586 edition. This is incorrect. I reviewed the copies libraries have scanned into Google Books (free for you to review as well). This copy does not match the 1586 edition. This copy matches the 1540 edition, printed by Anthoine Bonnemere. The scanned copy is held in Lyon at the BM Lyon library, and is recorded in Worldcat as OCLC 420928279. It is the only copy listed for that entry. There is a second Worldcat OCLC record that records one more copy at the BNF, 1010263351. The Universal Short Title Catalogue lists it as 7253, and records 7 copies (including the two French copies previously noted). No recorded copies in the U.S..

A charming thing I found in this book is the three ex libris inscriptions of Marie Anne Godarde, each written with different spellings (Marie Anne, Marieanne, and Marianne). These are found on pages xxxviii (verso), xxxix, and Paradis xvi. This brings to mind that Shakespeare's name was found written in different ways; name spelling was more fluid in the 16th/17th century.

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 16.5 x 10.5 x 2.5 cm. Vellum spine with decorative paper covering hardcover boards. Vellum spine is made from old letter (visible at joints). Missing pages (see description). Pagination was so bad I stopped trying and went to the signatures (numbering of the printed gatherings at bottom); these were usable.

B2-B7, C-Y8, AA-EE8. Missing leaves signed a1-a8, B1, B8, C3, O3, X2, X4, FF1-8, GG1-4

Condition -

See pictures. One of the worst conditions I've seen. Multiple pages missing (see description). Binding is worn, especially at edges. Text block edges look like the book was once on fire, which would explain the moisture marks throughout. Title is written in manuscript hand on spine, but is wrong (see description). FFEP has lengthy inscription, but also wrongly identifies the book. A handful of pages loose. Soiling throughout. Annotations throughout. Chipping to page edges. Again missing 26 leaves - a quire (8), B1, B8, C3, O3, X2, X4, FF quire (8), GG quire (4).