1st edition. 1581 Funerailles et Diverses Manieres d'ensevelir des..., Guichard. First book to discuss funeral rites of native Americans

1581, first edition of Guichard's work on funeral rites, including a section on the practices of North Americans (considered a first appearance). This work is also lightly illustrated. Although expanded, Guichard built upon Livy's Treatise on the Funeral of the Ancients, at the request of the Duke of Savoy Charles-Emmanuel.

Pages 437-466 relate the North American practices, in a section entitled, "Des Funerailles et Sepultures des peuples... de Novveau monde et d'Indes Occidentales ou Amerique".

Although it appears refreshed, by the bright endpapers, it is refreshing to see a vellum binding still wearing the leather ties; mostly, I find only tiny stubs of leather ties.

About the Author -

Claude Guichard (c. 1545 – 15 May 1607) was a historian of Savoy and a French poet. He was Secretary of State, Master of Requests and then Grand Referendary and historiographer of Savoy. Also, a French and Latin poet. He studied at the University of Turin, notably History and Philosophy, where he formed a great friendship with another poet of that time, Antoine Favre. Lord of Arandas, Argis and Tenay, he founded the College of the Holy Spirit in Saint-Rambert.

Bibliographic Details -

Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC) number 1603, not rare, found in many of the world's best libraries.

Worldcat OCLC catalogue number 21622671.

Adams, no. G 1545

Brunet, vol. 7 pp. 578

Pettegree, Walsby and Wilkinson, 24207

Girard, no. L513

Physical Attributes -

Vellum over (pasteboard?) boards, with closure ties. Measures approximately 24 x 16 x 4 cm. Signed in four. Illustrated.

Pages - viii, 546, (22 - table)

Collation - t4, a-z4, A-Z4, aa-zz4, AA-BB4

Condition -

See pictures. Binding with a little rubbing. Looks refreshed, but older. The ties are still extant, but I don't trust them to provide much strength (seem a little fragile). Ink spots along bottom edge. A few rust spots along fore-edge. Top-edge darkened. Endpapers seem refreshed. Graphite shelf mark note on free front endpaper. Some toning, foxing, chipped edges/corners, occasional worm hole, thumb, dog-eared page, etc. throughout. Title page has toning, rust spots, thumbing, erased graphite and darkening at top-edge. Ink smudge on z1 and z4. From z1 to end, some moisture at bottom gutter which occasionally touches text. z4 to D3 worm track at fore-edge margin which has mostly been repaired with tissue. V and X gatherings with darkened top corner from folded over/dust. cc2 recto with manuscript note. ii3 has 2" tear in fore-edge margin. ss to end has mostly repaired worm hole at top of text (tissue repair).