LES CENT NOUVELLES NOUVELLES attribuées au Roy Louis le Onzième. Sensuyt le présent livre des cent nouvelles nouvelles lequel en soy contient cent chapitres ou histoires ou pour mieux dire nouveaux compte à plaisance.

First edition with these illustrations. One of 75 copies on Imperial Japan, with an extra suite of plates in five states. Publisher's original wrappers, glassine wrapped suite of loose plates, housed in the original grey card portfolio and slipcase. 4to. A fine copy, illustrated throughout the text with 16 colour plates by Edmond Mallasis. The extra suite of the plates in five states are also in fine condition. The slipcase remains sound with some wear and a few marks at the extremities.

A collection of licentious tales centred around the scandals of fifteenth-century French society. Considered the first work of literary prose in French, and attributed in the title to Louis XI, their exact authorship is unknown although Antoine de La Sale is the most likely candidate. The illustrator Edmond Malassis was a renowned watercolour artist and student of the painter Gustave Moreau. A total of 590 copies of this illustrated edition were printed across five limitations; this is copy 26 of 75 (numbered 26 - 100) printed on Imperial Japan, with the extra suite of illustrations. Provenance: from the library of Martin Stone.