DES AUTELS (Guillaume). Lot n° 26

Replique aux furieuses defenses de Louis Meigret. Avec la Suite du Repos de Lautheur. Lyon, Jean de Tournes and Guillaume Gazeau, 1551. In-8, red morocco, large gilt cartouche at center of covers, ornate spine, interior lace, gilt edges (Trautz-Bauzonnet). First edition. The Réplique was part of the controversy between Des Autels and Louis Meigret over the reform of French spelling and language: it provided the young poet with an opportunity to criticize Du Bellay's Deffence..., even to launch a few jabs at Ronsard, and to argue in favor of national poetry. The Suite du Repos de plus grand travail occupies pp. 75-127 and comprises 47 poems, including one by Pontus de Tyard, cousin of Des Autels: the other 46, marked by the influence of Petrarch, are from the pen of the poet who sings his Saint, a certain Denyse L'Hoste. A fine copy. Minor marginal restoration to 2 leaves. J. P. Barbier-Mueller, III, n°65. - Cartier, n°188. - Picot, Rothschild, n°2572. - Diane Barbier-Mueller, Inventaire..., n°153.