MORNAY (Philippe de). Mémoires de Messire Philippes de Mornay, seigneur du Plessis Marli, Baron de La Forest sur Seure... [followed by] Histoire de la vie de Messire Philippe de Mornay... [La Forest], Amsterdam, Leiden, Louys Elzevier, Bonaventure and Abraham Elsevier, 1624-1652. 5 strong in-4° vol. bound in full cherry red morocco, spines with gilt ornaments on the nerves, triple gilt fillet framing the boards with the arms of Empress Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828), wife of Tsar Paul I of Russia in the centre, double gilt fillet on the edges, gilt roulette inside, Bound in contemporary gilt. Vol.1: 8 pp, 927 pp, 18 pp, Vol.2: [2] ff, 960 pp, 22 pp, Vol.3: 903 pp, [10] pp, 275 pp, [3] pp, Vol.4: [4] ff, 1197 pp. (noted 1207), [15] pp, Vol.5: [1] ff. 732 pp, [5] pp. adorned with wood-engraved bands and initials. A rare, uniformly bound copy of these historical treatises in their original edition. A collection of texts and documents gathered by the author in his various capacities, these Memoirs constitute an important source of historical and linguistic references during the reign of Henri IV. Philippe de Mornay (1549-1623) is known both as a religious man and a statesman. He was one of the most famous representatives of the Reformation in France. A staunch Protestant but obviously moderate, he was a close adviser to Henry IV during the religious conflicts of his time. This is a precious copy in a prestigious binding with the coat of arms of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, born Princess of Württemberg (1759-1828) and wife of Tsar Paul I. She maintained an intellectual and intellectual spirit. She cultivated an intellectual spirit worthy of the Enlightenment and built up one of the most important libraries of her time, with over 20,000 titles housed in the Pavlovsk Palace. Reference label for the Imperial Library of Pavlovsk Palace Provenance: Library of Maria Feodorovna née Princess of Württemberg (1759-1828), Pavlovsk Palace, Ader Picard sale, 20 November 1967, lot 109, Acquired at the previous sale then by descent to the current owners. A fine copy in good condition despite a restored tear to the endpapers and oxidation to the endpapers of the first two volumes. The set of five volumes is divided as follows: Vol.1 and 2 : Mémoires... depuis l'an 1572 jusques a l'an 1589 ... Vol.3 and 4 : Mémoires... depuis l'an 1600 jusques a l'an 1623... Vol.5 : Histoire de la vie de Messire Philippe de Mornay... written by Madame du Plessis-Mornay Binding : Spine and boards of vol.1 partly soiled with discoloration of the leather Superficial soiling and scuffing to boards of vol.1 Minor lack of material at the head of the spine of vol.1 Minor scuffing to some boards Minor old restorations to some corners in particular Corner very slightly dulled on vol.IV Inside pages: Ff. oxidised, some more marked or even browned, notably in vol.1 and 2 Some foxing and spotting of varying density One tear visibly restored with reinforcement of the paper which partially reaches the text on pp.811-812 of vol.1 Minor mottling of the table pages of vol.1 Erroneous numbering of pages in vol.4, shifting the pagination by 10: page numbered 1080 instead of 1070, with no missing signatures