Paulus Aemilius Veronensis: De rebus gestis Francorum libri IX. Paris: Jodocus Badius Ascensius. No date (c. 1517).
Perg. 31 2º

Front cover	Fol. a2r: The luxuriously decorated first page	Fol. a3r: Ordinary page with text

This book contains a history of France from about 400 to the end of the 15th century. It was written by the Italian Paulus Aemilius who moved to Paris c. 1499 and shortly thereafter set upon writing his history of France at the request of the French King. He wrote in Latin and his style was inspired by ancient Roman historians.
This copy is a luxurious one, printed on parchment and with elaborate decorations on the first page. The book was once part of the large English Harley Library, founded by Robert Harley (1st Earl of Oxford (-1724)). His son, Edward Harley (1689-1741), added considerably to the library and had many of the books beautifully bound. This copy is bound in a typical Harley binding – red morocco with gold decorations. It was probably bound by Christopher Chapman, one of the bookbinders often employed by Edward Harley.

34.1 x 23.1 cm.

References: Ruth Bentzen, “Lord Harley og grev Thott. En studie i nogle af Det Kongelige Biblioteks bind og bøger fra Harleys og Thotts bogsamlinger”. (Will be published in Fund og Forskning 44, 2005) (in Danish).
C. Molbech, Fortegnelse over de paa Pergament trykkede Bøger i det store Kongelige Bibliothek, Copenhagen: Thiele’s Printing House 1830, p. 16 (in Danish).
Joseph van Praet, Catalogue des livres imprimés sur vélin de la bibliothèque du roi, Vol. V, Paris 1822, p. 94.

© Det Kongelige Bibliotek 2004