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Rare first edition of the letters of the favourite disciple of François de Malherbe

MAYNARD, François.
Les lettres du President Maynard.

Full-page frontispiece portrait of François Maynard aged 64, title with engraved vignette by N. Picart, woodcut head-pieces and initials.

Paris, Toussaint Quinet, 1652. 4to. 18th-century full mottled calf, spine gilt in compartments with title letttered in gold, double gilt lines along edges of sides, gilt and decorated binding edges, marbled edges. Full-page frontispiece portrait of François Maynard aged 64, title with engraved vignette by N. Picart, woodcut head-pieces and initials. (24, incl. frontispiece), 854, 853-873, (2) pp.

Rare original edition of this collection of 285 letters by the French poet François Maynard written to various recipients, a.o. Mr. le Comte d'Ayen, de la Forest Toiras, de Porcheres, de Caminade (who was the president of the Parliament in Toulouse, le Febure (advisor of the King) and De Flotte, the editor of this book. A second edition appeared in 1655 (the only edition mentioned by both Brunet and Graesse!).
François (de) Maynard, (1582-1646) spent the greater part of his life in Toulouse. Maynard was born in Toulouse to a father who was advisor in the Parliament of the town. François was also trained for the law, becoming eventually president of Aurillac. He became secretary to Margaret of Valois, wife of Henry IV of France, for whom his early poems are written. He was a disciple of Malherbe, who said that in the workmanship of his lines he excelled Racan, but lacked his rival's energy. Like Malherbe, Maynard was very much concerned with the clarification of the French language. In 1634 he accompanied the Cardinal de Noailles to Rome and spent about two years in Italy. On his return to France he made many unsuccessful efforts to obtain the favour of Cardinal Richelieu, but was eventually obliged to retire to Toulouse. He never ceased to lament his exile from Paris and his inability to be present at the meetings of the French Academy, of which he was one of the earliest members. He died at Toulouse in 1646. His works consist of odes, epigrams, songs and letters.
After the portrait and title, follow the dedication to Louis de Lorraine, duc de Joyeuse, Pair et Grand Chambellan de France by the edition of this correspondence Mr. De Flotte, a preface, a poem (Madrigal) to Mr. le Duc de Joyeuse by Racan, three laudatory poems for Maynard by Scarron, Tristan l'Hermite and G. Colletet; and an index of the letters

Our copy is from the library of Frédéric Lachèvre (1855-1943), well-known bibliographer and literary critic.

Good copy with pasted ex-libris of Frédéric Lachèvre le Vésinet on inside of front cover.- (Some (water)staining; first two quires loosening, re-backed).

Brunet III, col. 1559; Graesse IV, p. 457; Chardon de la Rochette, Mélanges I, p. 362f.

Related Subjects: 17th Century Correspondence France Poetry

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