L'Imitation de Jesus-Christ, Traduction Nouvelle. Avec une pratique et une Priere ... Par le R.P. de Gonnelieu, de la Compagnie de Jesus. Nouvelle edition. [In Four Volumes]

Chez Claude Robustel, 1727-01-01. Leather Bound. Very Good. In French, and the Ordinary of the Mass (which precedes this translation of The Imitation of Christ) is in both French and Latin. 1727 Chez Claude Robustel (Paris), four 5 x 7 3/8 inches tall full leather bound volumes, ruled covers, elaborate gilt decorations and gilt-lettered burgundy leather labels to spines, all page edges red, marbled endpapers, [Vol. 1] liv, [2], 206; [Vol. 2] 207-352; [Vol. 3] 353-534; [Vol. 4] 535-677 pp. Includes a two-page catalogue of publisher Claude Robustel's work. Lacking the Pierre Giffart engravings mentioned in the listings of the two French libraries which hold the only institutional copies found by OCLC (Cat. No. 490232683) worldwide, but otherwise complete in all respects. Light to moderate rubbing and edgewear to the covers. A couple of pinhole size holes, impacting a couple of words in the Approbation at the rear of Volume 4. A few pages with slight, mostly marginal staining, and a few creased page tips. Otherwise, in very good condition - clean, bright and unmarked, of this extremely rare issue, which hasn't come up to an auction recorded by ABPC over the past several decades. A handsome set with a splendid shelf appearance. Reference: Augustin De Backer, Essai Bibliographique sur le Livre De Imitatione Christi, 876. ~LR1~A rare translation of this immortal devotional work derived from the French version first published in Paris in 1712 by French Jesuit theologian, ascetical writer and preacher Jerome de Gonnelieu (1640-1715), with relevant observations and prayers following each of the book's many chapters. Most scholars - and the two French libraries which hold copies (Bibliotheque nationale de France and Bibliotheque interuniversitaire Sainte-Genevieve) - credit Nancy, France printer John-Baptiste Cusson for the primary translation, saying Gonnelieu's prinicipal contribution was the observations following each chapter. The Imitation of Christ was first written by Catholic monk Thomas Kempis (circa 1380-1471) as four separate books completed between 1420 and 1427, at Mount Saint Agnes monastery, in the town of Windesheim, located in what is now the Netherlands. He wrote these works for the instruction of novices of his Augustinian monastic order, followers of Geert Groote's Brethren of the Common Life. But the writings quickly became popular among all the literate faithful. There is probably no other book apart from the Bible which has been printed in so many editions and translations.