The Devout Life
FRANCIS DE SALES.
Introduction à la vie devote du bien-heureux François de Sales, evesque et prince de Geneve; instituteur de l’Ordre de la Visitation de Saincte Marie. Reveue par l’autheur avant son deceds. Et augmentée de la maniere de dire devotement le chapelet, et de bien servir la Vierge Marie. Derniere edition. Paris, Jean Hénault, 1648.
8vo, pp. [16], 576, [8]; copper engraved portrait of Francis de Sales facing p. 1, woodcut initials and headpieces; some light marginal dampstaining and toning; overall very good in contemporary calf, double gilt fillet border to covers, spine in compartments lettered and decorated in gilt, marbled pastedowns; wear to spine ends, corners, and edges, some abrasions to covers; early ink inscriptions to title ‘a lusage des religieuses de lhotel Dieu et charité de Suevre’ and ‘Houel'.
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Introduction à la vie devote du bien-heureux François de Sales, evesque et prince de Geneve; instituteur de l’Ordre de la Visitation de Saincte Marie. Reveue par l’autheur avant son deceds. Et augmentée de la maniere de dire devotement le chapelet, et de bien servir la Vierge Marie. Derniere edition.
A seemingly unrecorded edition of the famous Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales (1567–1622), bishop of Geneva, cofounder of the Visitandines, and one of the leaders of the Counter Reformation, with an engraved portrait of him.
The Introduction ‘is one of the earliest guide books of its period for people living in the world. It grew out of the spiritual direction which Francis gave to his cousin’s wife, Mme de Charmoisy. It deals, in a style full of imagery, with the practical problems of people of social standing and their obligations, but its teaching is of universal application. The first edition appeared at Lyons in 1609, but Francis frequently revised it until 1619, the date of the definitive edition’ (Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church).
Several 1648 Parisian editions appear on OCLC but none with the imprint of Jean Hénault, son of Mathurin, printer to the university of Paris, and type founder.
Provenance: a community of nuns in Suèvres, in the Loire Valley.