LORTIGUE (Annibal de). Lot n° 79

Les Poemes divers, où il est traicté de Guerre, d'Amour, gayetez, Poincts de controverses, Hymnes, Sonnets, & autres Poësies. Paris, Jean Gesselin, 1617. 2 volumes in-12, bound in two volumes, granite calf, cold fillet, ornate spine, red title page, red edges (Early 18th century binding). Rare first edition of this collection of poems by a Provençal poet-soldier. Born and died in Apt, Provence, Annibal de Lortigue (or d'Ortigue) (1570-1630) was as much a man of the sword as of the pen: he was one of those gallant, valiant and devout gentlemen, who fell as easily to his knees before a crucifix as before an appetizing bodice (J. P. Barbier-Mueller), but had no poet's soul, according to Viollet-le-Duc, who describes his amorous sonnets as miserable. The work contains several facetious pieces, including Louanges [sic] des femmes, la gloire & la perfection de leur sexe, le Vieillard amoureux, and l'étrange Délice des galleux. Also of note are the Discours sur la nourriture des Princes, the Hymne de l'ortie, the Plaisir rustique, the sonnet Pour le plaisir champestre, as well as the interesting and lengthy poem entitled L'Hymne du formage [sic]: For Lortigue, cheese, an absolute aphrodisiac, stirs lovers to the hottest elations, far better than truffles, artichokes, cock's crest and other pistachios (Oberlé). Copy of Frédéric Lachèvre, a specialist in facetious poetry and literature of the 16th and 17th centuries, with his bookplate. Handwritten bookplate dated 1688 on verso of title. Staining to first 20 leaves. Small loss at upper head, upper hinge a little rubbed. Oberlé, Fastes..., n°787 ("of great rarity"). - Picot, Rothschild, n°822. - Viollet le Duc, I, p. 382. - Diane Barbier-Mueller, Inventaire..., n°491.