Les statuts de l'ordre du Saint-Esprit
L'ordre du Saint-Esprit, 1740

Details
Les statuts de l'ordre du Saint-Esprit L'ordre du Saint-Esprit, 1740 [ROYAL ORDER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT] – Les statuts de l'ordre du Saint-Esprit. [Paris]: L'imprimerie royale, 1740. Statutes of the French royal chivalric order, in a contemporary binding displaying the arms of Louis XV. The Order of the Holy Spirit was created by Henry III during the Wars of Religion on December 31 1578. The first order of the French monarchy, its members had to be Catholic and of hereditary nobility, tracing their lineage back at least to their great-grandfather. Quarto (285 × 210mm). Engraved title-page, tailpieces and initials, engraved headpieces signed by S. le Clerc, margins ruled in ink (light marginal toning, occasional small stains, spotting in quires 2K and 2L). Contemporary French red morocco, arms of Louis XV on covers, emblem of the Holy Spirit in the corners (OHR 2494, nos. 12 and 13), alternating fleur-de-lys and palmette roll border, compartments tooled with semy of fleurs-de-lys and flames, Dutch paper endleaves tooled, gilt and painted by Bey Simon at Augsburg. Provenance: early armorial bookplate (lion salient between three flames) – Bibliothèque de Mr de Berenger (bookplate).