(1556). DU CHOUL (Guillaume). DISCOURS DE LA RELIGION DES AN - Lot 285

(1556). DU CHOUL (Guillaume). DISCOURS DE LA RELIGION DES ANCIENS ROMAINS... ILLUSTRE D'UN GRAND NOMBRE DE MEDAILLES, & DE PLUSIEURS BELLES FIGURES Lyon, Guillaume Rouille, 1556. In-folio of 312-[56] pages, brown calf, gilt Renaissance iron in the center of the boards, ornate spine, gilt edges, ruled copy (period binding). First edition, much more beautiful than the reprints that followed, and one of Lyon's finest books of the 16th century. Its illustration, attributed by Baudrier to Pierre Eskrich, includes 554 MEDAL REPRODUCTIONS AND 47 miscellaneous woodcuts, 5 of which are full-page and "largely executed". The title page features the coat of arms of Guillaume Du Choul, humanist and archaeologist from Lyon, royal advisor and bailly of the Dauphiné mountains, who dedicated his work to Monsieur d'Urfé, father of the famous novelist. Next page: - DISCOURS SUR LA CASTRAMETATION ET DISCIPLINE MILITAIRE DES ROMAINS - DES BAINS ET ANTIQUES EXERCITATIONS GRECQUES ET ROMMAINES. Lyon, G. Rouille, 1557. 2 parts of 55-1bl. and 20-[5] leaves, one folded plate (flyleaf). 37 FIGURES for the first book and 6 figures for the second. Hinges split and spine missing, many rings and brown spots. (Baudrier IX, 229-238) (Mortimer, French, 180 and 181) (USTC 1132 and 52863).