Rare edition of a French satirical prose text, which was taken from an anonymous manuscript written in the middle of the 15th century. It has been attributed to multiple authors, but most often to Antoine de La Sale (ca.1385-ca.1460). It narrates in 15 tableaux the misfortunes of a man who is caught in the "trap" of marriage. The text is a parody of the Quinze joies de la vierge, which was a popular devotional work at the time. The present copy has been beautifully bound by English bookbinder Francis Bedford (1799-1883). It also includes five unnumbered pages at the end with the Quatrains of honourable love, which are often lacking.
De La Sale spent his life in the service of Louis d'Anjou. Later he became the tutor of Louis' son, the later King René d'Anjou. His most successful work was Le petit Jehan de Saintré (1456), an intriguing mixture of courtly romance and fabliaux, ironizing everything except chivalry. In the present work the author elaborates on the same kind of themes, centred this time around the "delights" of marriage. The first edition of the work was printed without a date in Lyon by Olivier Arnoullet and was edited by De Verdier. At least 19 more editions were published before the middle of the 17th century.
Very good copy from the collection of Guglielmo Libri with an etched bookplate with the monogram "A.K." mounted on the front pastedown, and a bookseller's label from Günther Leisten below. The edges of the boards are very slightly scuffed. The title page is slightly soiled, with a small tear in the outer margin. Otherwise in good condition. Brunet, IV, 1031; Desonay, F., Antoine de la Sale, aventureux et pédagogue (Liège 1960); Grisebach 672; Gay-Lem, III, 913; Pettegree & Walsby 45128; Tchemerzine, VII, 96c; USTC 19345 (7 copies).