GARNIER (Claude). Les Royales couches, ou les Naissances de Monsieur le Dauphin et de Madame. Paris, Abel L'Angelier, 1604. In-8, limp vellum, spandrels of gilt boughs, sown with gilt fleurs-de-lis covering the covers, coat-of-arms in the centre, smooth spine decorated with a similar sowing throughout, gilt edges, green silk ties (Period binding). First complete edition of this very rare collection of poems celebrating the double royal birth of the Dauphin (the future King Louis XIII) in 1601 and his sister Elisabeth of France in 1602. A court poet and great admirer of Ronsard, of whom he was executor, Claude Garnier (1583-1633) published a first sample of these poems, entitled Couches royales, with Mamert Patisson in 1603. A fine portrait of the author engraved by Charles de Mallery after Jean Rabel can be found opposite the Ode pindarique à la royne (p. 71). Following the collection are six short pieces of verse, all very rare, the first four of which are undoubtedly by Claude Garnier, while the last two can only be attributed to him: 1. Livre de la Franciade, following that of Ronsard. S.l., 1604. First edition, dedicated to the Dauphin, of this continuation of the epic left unfinished by Ronsard. - 2. Triomphe de Monseigneur le Dauphin. S.l. [Paris], 1604. Very rare. - 3. Chant royal de la naissance de Jesus-Christ. Paris, 1605. Very rare. - 4. L'Ariadne de Nonnus Panopolitain, poete grec. S.l.n.d. [1605]. Translation into verse of a part of the Dionysiacs by Nonnos of Panopolis, dedicated as a gift to Madame la duchesse de Longueville. - 5. Complainte des nymphes de S. Germain des Prez et de S. Clou, sur le trespas de Mr de Gondy. S.l. [Paris, François Julliot ?], 1604. - 6. L'Adieu aux Muses. S.l., 1603. A superb copy finely ruled in gilt vellum with the arms of Henri IV. Handwritten bookplate to the title: Du Pelletier. From the library of Baron de Franchetti (1890, n°296), with ex-libris. Light spotting to the upper corner of a few leaves. Balsamo & Simonin, n°397 - Duportal, n°54.