Julian I. Edison, St Louis, Missouri

[Esther Inglis Octonaires MS]

Autograph calligraphic MS, v + 55 + 8 leaves, on rectos only, dated 1 January 1614/15, in contemporary dark red velvet embroidered. A New Year's presentation MS to Prince Charles, with a Dedication to him, in several styles of script, with colour and gold arms and decoration. 1615.

*InE 21: Esther Inglis, [Octonaires de la Roche Chandieu] Octonaires sur la vanité et inconstance du monde, escrits par Esther Inglis ce premier de l'an, 1615

Sotheby's, 5 December 1989, lot 65. Christie's, 29 November 1999, lot 65, with facsimile examples in the sale catalogue.

Verse ‘Octonaires’ in French by Antoine de la Roche Chandieu (1534-91), first published in Paris, 1586.

[Esther Inglis Pybrac MS I]

Autograph calligraphic MS, in numerous styles of script, with little decoration, on rectos only, vii + 126 leaves (43 x 61 mm.), dated 10 December 1599, in contemporary calf gilt. 1599.

*InE 43: Esther Inglis, [Quatrains de Pybrac] Quatrains du Sieur de Pybrac gentil homme François: Escrit en diverses sortes de lettres Par Esther Anglois Françoise, A Lislebourg le X. de Dec. 1599

Later owned by Joseph Mayer (1870, and by Baroness Angela Burgett-Coutts (1814-1906), philanthropist. Sotheby's, 16 May 1922, lot 223. Maggs's sale catalogue No. 437 (1923), item 1023. Raphaël Esmerian, New York, 1966 (sale catalogue, Part 1, 6 June 1972, item 9), sold to Julian I. Edison.

Scott-Elliot & Yeo, No. 11 (pp. 40-1), with a facsimile of one page as Plate 18 (between pp. 42 and 43). Facsimile example in Anne C. Bromer and Julian I. Edison, Miniature Books (2007), p. 29.

Quatrains in French by Guy du Faur, Sieur de Pybrac (1529-84), first published in 1576.

[Esther Inglis Pybrac MS II]

Autograph calligraphic MS, on rectos only, 121 + v leaves (44 x 74 mm.), in contemporary calf gilt. A New Year's presentation MS to Robert Carr (1585/6?-1645), Earl of Somerset, with a Dedication to him, in small Roman script, some majuscules in italic, with gold decoration, lacking what was probably a self-portrait. 1 January 1614/15.

*InE 51: Esther Inglis, [Quatrains de Pybrac] Les six vingts et six quatrains de Guy de Faur Sieur de Pybrac. Escrits, par Esther Inglis pour son dernier adieu le premier de l'an 1615 [and] Les cinquante octonaires sur la vanite et inconstance du monde, escrits, par Esther Inglis, pour son dernier adieu. Le premier de l'an, 1615

Inscribed in the 19th century ‘The present of Mr Hamerton Godfather’. Sotheby's, 10 July 1986, lot 18.

Scott-Elliot & Yeo, No. 45 (p. 74). Facsimile of the title-page in Sotheby's sale catalogue. Facsimile examples in Anne C. Bromer and Julian I. Edison, Miniature Books (2007), pp. 29 and 31. A set of photocopies and two photographs in British Library, RP 3330.

Quatrains in French by Guy du Faur, Sieur de Pybrac (1529-84), first published in 1576, and verse ‘Octonaires’ in French by Antoine de la Roche Chandieu (1534-91), first published in Paris, 1586.