LE MÈRE (Ignace). - Lot 43

LE MÈRE (Ignace). Moral and Christian thoughts on the text of Genesis. Rouen: Charles Ferrand, 1733. - 2 volumes in-12, 167 x 97 and 165 x 95 : (9 ff.), 505 pp., (3 ff.) ; (1 f.), 523 pp., (1 f.). Lemon morocco, triple gilt fillet framing and gilt coat of arms at center of covers, ornate ribbed spine, inner gilt roulette, gilt edges over marbling (period binding). First edition dedicated to Louis I, Duc d'Orléans (1703-1752), son of the Regent. It is illustrated with a handsome band bearing the dedicatee's coat of arms, engraved by Jean-Baptiste Scotin. The Hellenist Ignace Le Mère (1677-1752) was a priest of the Oratoire, originally from Marseille. A staunch opponent of the Unigenitus bull attacking Jansenism, he defended the doctrine of the Jansenist theologian Paquier Quesnel (1634-1718) in all his works, including this one in which he offers a succession of thoughts on one or more verses of Genesis, which he quotes, in Latin and French, at the start of each of his reflections. A PRECIOUS DEDICATION COPY, BEARING THE ARMS OF THE DUC D'ORLÉANS. The Orléans family stamp is also found on the titles and on page 61 of each volume. Undoubtedly the most valuable copy of this rare book. Louis d'Orléans, as Olivier, Hermal and Roton point out, sometimes used the arms of his father the regent, which is the case here. The second volume has slightly shorter margins than the first. Discrete and very skilful restorations to the bindings, a few light stains. Title of first volume rebacked to period. Provenance: Louis I duc d'Orléans, with his arms on the boards and the stamp with his arms repeated. - A. Varrey or Narrey, with handwritten bookplate at the beginning of the first volume, resident of Bergues Saint-Winoc.