Fine collection of two French chapbook editions, all "Bibliothèque bleue" printed in Troyes by a member of the Oudot family. Although these popular works, mostly dating from the Middle Ages, were many times republished - up till the present time - only a few copies survive, making each work in this collection rare.
Ad 1: Extremely rare and richly woodcut illustrated chapbook edition of one of the popular romances woven around Charles the Great and his Twelve Peers. According to the Count of Tressan, Gallien was called "Restauré" because he restored the affairs of the French in Spain, those of the Christians in Constantinople, and those of his mother in Mesopotamia. However, Nisard judges this too simple, and according to him the name is given to the hero because he overcame all obstacles with which his life was littered since his birth. Gallien was an illegitimate son and consequently robbed of an inheritance. However, after many difficulties and adventures he found his father and convinced him to legally accept him, and to rehabilitate and restore his mother to her rightful position on the throne of Constantinople. The present edition is most richly and attractively illustrated, which is extremely rare.
Ads 2 and 3: The two parts of the popular story of Huon the Bordeaux, here in a rare complete early 18th century edition, each part with a charming woodcut illustration on title page. The work tells the story of the legendary Carolingian knight who unwittingly kills Charlemagne's son, and then has to fulfil a number of seemingly impossible tasks to evade punishment. He succeeds with the help of the fairy king Oberon. The story originated in France in the 13th century and first circulated as a chanson de geste. The epic poem was translated into English around 1540, which served as the basis for Shakespeare's A midsummer night's dream.
The binding has been rubbed, removing the top layer of the leather, a loss on the back board has been restored. The leaves are browned. Otherwise in good condition. Ad 1: Morin 583; cf. Nisard II, pp. 478-481 (other ed.); Oberlé, La Bibliotheque Bleue, 73 (other Troyes-ed. by Jean Garnier, ca. 1760, without woodcuts); ad 2 and 3: Morin 465; cf. Nisard II, pp. 475-476 (other ed.); Oberlé, La Bibliotheque Bleue, 64 (other Troyes-ed. by La Veuve Garnier, 1726).