Lot 161
Lefevre, d'Etaples, Jacques
Musica libris quatuor demonstrata. Paris: Guillaume Cavellat, 1552, 4to., ff. 44, italic letter, large printer's device on title, white on black woodcut initials, extensive printed tables and diagrams, modern maroon morocco, spine, borders and inner edges gilt, very minor waterstain to extreme upper outer corner of first four leaves, signed 'Godin 1731' on the title-page
Estimate £1,000-1,500

Note: BM STC French Books. p. 259; Adams F 28.

First separate edition of a very early and important work of musical theory. It had been printed previously in a now unfindable collective edition of 1496 and an almost equally rare Estienne of 1514. This edition has a variant form of the title-page in which the date appears as 1551. Cavellat in his preface states that he is republishing the text because of the almost complete absence of works on the science and method of music compared with all other subjects. "Many music theorists from the 16th century to the 18th either referred to Faber or quoted him" (Grove Dictionary of Music).

Sold for £1,000