VILLEHARDOUIN (Geoffroy de). Histoire de l'Empire de Constantinople sous les empereurs françois. Paris, Imprimerie royale, 1657. 3 parts in one folio volume, marbled calf, coats of arms in the centre, spine decorated with gilt fleurs-de-lys, spotted edges (period binding). The best early edition of Villehardouin's chronicle, published by Du Cange. The first part contains La Conquête de Constantinople, a chronicle of the Fourth Crusade composed between 1207 and 1213 by Geoffroy de Villehardouin (1148-1213), edited in Old French and Modern French by Charles du Fresne Du Cange (1610-1688), with the Chronique rhmée by Philippe Mouskes and extensive notes. The Histoire de l'Empire de Constantinople sous les empereurs français forms the second part; it is entirely the work of Du Cange. The appendix contains charters and other supporting documents. Brunet describes this edition under the date 1656, which is the date of the printing of the appendix. A copy bearing the royal arms girded with the Louvre lace. From the library of Julien Lemaire de la Neuville, with bookplate. Hinges cracked, headpieces restored, corners worn, foxing and minor spotting. Brunet, V, 1239 - Blackmer, n°501.