BERGIER (Nicolas)

Lot 26
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BERGIER (Nicolas)
History of the great roads of the Roman Empire. Containing the origin, progress [sic] ; & almost incredible extent of the military Roads, paved from the city of Romes to the extremities of his Empire. Where we see the greatness & the incomparable power of the Romans. Ensemble l'esclarcissement [sic] de l'Itinéraire d'Antonin, & de la Charte de Peutinger. Paris, C. Morel, 1628. Large volume in-4, red morocco, triple gilt fillet, coat of arms in the center, ornate spine with alternating arms repeated in the caissons, interior roulette, gilt edges on marble (Binding of the time). The founding book of the archaeology of communication routes. Published for the first time in 1622, this work is the most important of Nicolas Bergier (1567-1623): this historian and learned antiquarian, who was also a lawyer at the presidial seat of Rheims, was a friend of Peiresc who indicated to him the existence of the Peutinger Table and encouraged him in his work. I do not see anyone who has undertaken to deal with the great Roads in full depth, & by a separate & distinct work (preface): the author, who claims the innovative character of his work, presents his theory and his method of study, relying on Latin texts and archaeological field observations. In the five main parts of his book, he gives a precise hierarchy of the materials used in the construction of roads, compares the temples, sepulchres and profane buildings that border them and serve as ornaments, speaks of the streets of Rome, etc. This historical text had such an impact that it continued to inspire various scientific and technical works on this specific object until the 20th century (Nicolas Verdier and Sandrine Robert in Les Carnets du paysage, "Archéologies", n°27, 2015, p. 71). An epigram by Joachim du Bellay on Roman antiquities closes the last chapter entitled De la vieillesse et décadence de la ville de Rome... A very nice copy in morocco with the coat of arms of the Countess of Verrue (1670-1736). Jeanne-Baptiste d'Albert de Luynes was probably the only real female bibliophile of the Ancien Régime. At her death, her library counted about 3000 titles; it was dispersed the following year (Quentin Bauchart, Les Femmes bibliophiles de France, t. I, pp. 409-429). The copy previously belonged to Jean Ballesdens (1593-1675), secretary to the chancellor Séguier and academician: the autograph signature of this great bibliophile can be read on the title. Old handwritten bookplate on the title: Ex-libris D. Ludovici Maler Regia Consiliis. Small crack at the foot of f. H4, paper missing at the lower corner of f. Xxx3, light foxing, a few quires slightly and evenly foxed, small wetness in the margin of a few rare leaves. Minimal rubbing on the spine nerves.
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