Henri ESTIENNE. Project for the book entitled De la precellence du langage François. In-8, brown morocco, double fillet and gilt foliate medallion, spine with 5 ornate nerves, inner lace, gilt edges (Capé). Brunet, II-1075 // Cioranescu, 9616 // De Backer, 22. (16f.)-295-(1f. white) / ã8, ē8, A-S8, T4 / 102 x 161 mm. A rare and sought-after first edition. The eldest son of the great printer Robert Estienne, Henri Estienne (1528-1598) was one of the great scholars of his time. He had a perfect knowledge of all the modern languages as well as the ancient ones, and some of the Oriental languages. As a teenager, he travelled in search of ancient texts, and in Geneva, where he had settled, he published works of great erudition in linguistics, theology and philosophy, as well as numerous texts by ancient authors. The Project of the book De la precellence du langage françois was written at the request of Henri III to demonstrate that the French language surpasses all vulgar languages and that, as a result, our nation has a greater preparation for eloquence than any other. The work is a long dissertation in which Henri Estienne covers all areas and uses precise examples to show why French is the best of the best. A very good copy despite a trace of scuffing with no loss of leather on the first cover. Sheet F4 has 2 holes in the lower margin due to a lack of pulp during papermaking.