Enchiridion Ov Manvel Discovrs Des Biens Et Trauvaux que les enfans de Dieu ont receu...pour la religion, & ceremonies d'icelle by DURAND, Guillaume. c. 1525-1585 - 1582

Paris: D. Du Pré, 1582. Early 19th-century straight-grained green morocco, gilt ruled double border with a vine and foliage roll, ruled flat spine and vertically lettered title gilt, all edges gilt, pink silk marker.

Only Edition - a beautiful copy with distinguished provenance and the only example outside of Paris.
     Durand's poem on the triumphs and trials of God's chosen people has three Books: Creation and the Flood (I), Moses, Joshua and the Judges (II) and the Kings of Israel, the rise of the Romans and the coming of Christ (III). He relied on, i.a., the Bible, NANNI'S FORGERIES OF HISTORIAN BEROSUS THE CHALDEAN, the philosopher Philo of Alexandria (c. 20 BCE-c. 50 CE) and Roman historian Josephus (37-c. 100).
     Durand paraphrases the biblical text, narrates events and imagines the hymns sung by, i.a., Noah and his family. The shoulder notes cite his sources, summarize the plot points and provide the original Latin text. Durand served Henri III as counsel and dedicates (in verse) the volume to him.
     In fine condition (one outer margin shaved just touching a few sorts); bookplates of architect and bibliophile E.-L.-N. Viollet-le-Duc, English antiquary Thomas Powell, L.M. (mottoed Selon qu'on peult) and J.P. Barbier-Mueller.
¶Jeanneret, Poésie et tradition biblique au XVIe siècle 539; Viollet-le-Duc, Catalogue...la bibliothèque poétique  I: 266-67 "Superb copy of a very rare book" (tr.); Brunet II: 906-7; Cioranesco 9139; USTC 29018.