Merlin.
Sensuyt le Premier (-Second) Volume de Merlin, quie est le Premier Livre de la Table Ronde (avec les Prophecies de Merlin qui est la Tierce Partie).

Paris: [Philippe Le Noir], 24 December 1528.

Fifth edition (sixth edition of the Prophecies), three quarto volumes, first four leaves of volume one lacking and provided in facsimile (i.e., title page and table of contents); title pages of second and third volume printed in red and black, woodcut historiated title border in all volumes, full-page presentation woodcut in volume II, woodcut historiated, criblé and other initials, (neat repairs to title of second volume, repaired marginal wormhole, some damage at upper corners affecting a few letters, two small wormholes at beginning of volume I); bound in uniform 19th-century red morocco gilt, first two volumes bound by Gottermayer in Budapest; third volume by Niedrée; edges marbled and gilt; sold at Sotheby's on 23 March 1905 as lot 738; ex libris Thomas Edward Watson with armorial bookplates, 7 x 5 in. (3)

All early editions of the French Merlin story are rare at auction. The story of the magician and prophet Merlin developed into the anonymous French romance cycle in the mid-12th century, and then grew into the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Brunet III, 1655; Renouard Chrono. III, 1567.

From the Ken Rapoport Collection.