Lord David Chambers of Ormond (1530?-1592) Discours de la Légitime Succession des Femmes, aux Possessions de leurs Parens: & du Gouvernement des Princesses aux Empires & Royaumes Paris: Chez J. Feurier, 1579 MSU Library Call Number: XX D22 .C47
Translation of title: Discussion of the Legitimacy of the Succession of Women, of the Possessions of Their Parents: & from the Government of the Princesses of Empires & Kingdoms. Translated by Katherine Emrich
Written on the discussion of the role of women in society. The author, Lord David Chambers of Ormond, was a supporter of Queen Mary I. Lord Chambers writes his ideas about how he supported the idea that a woman should be able to inherit the throne from her parents and that she should take the title of her parents. This was greatly disputed subject as many did not like the idea of a woman in power. It is dedicated to Catherine de Medicis the mother-in-law of Queen Mary I of England and wife of King Henry II of France. Her three sons each held the crown of France during her lifetime. This is notable as Catherine had a dislike for Queen Mary I and he dedicates his other work to Mary. This book was printed on paper and bound in leather with gold leafing on the spine for the title and slight decoration. No page for errors included.
On the title page there is a rip through the title and a small signature on the bottom with a note. The name appears to be “N Burnet”. The rest is not legible.
A bookplate on the inside of the cover reads “From the Collection of Charles Butler of Warren Wood Hatfield”. Mr. Butler was a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire. He studied ancient and modern literature.
Another bookplate in this area states “745 Chambre. Another copy, 3 vol. in 1, with altered title page Paris, R Coulombel a l’enseigne d’Alde, 1579” Robert Coulombel was another printer in Paris during the time of J. Feurier. This plate suggests that he was printing a copy with a different title page.
There is one bookplate in the inside of the title page. Its has a crest with the helmet of a Knight, a boars head, and the phrase ” Corda Serata Fero” or “I opened locked hearts”. The name on it reads” George lockheart of Carnwath”. He was commissioner of the Exchequer (1686) and a Scottish politician.
Many of the provenance marks are small brown stains on multiple pages as though something bled through the pages. In the second picture, there is a small fingerprint like ink stain on the corner of a page. A few pages later (third photo) there is a black smudge on the middle of the bottom of the page that looks to be a dot with a run of black ink behind it.
The top corner of a few pages appear to have been folded too many times and fallen out. Others after it have the diagonal line signifying the continual folding of them. A few of this section also have the line on the bottom corner which could mean the importance or popularity of the particular chapter to the owner at the time.
One of the last notable provenance marks is what appears to be an ink blot on a page. It is black or very dark brown and speckles the bottom corner in a circular fashion suggestion an ink blot.
Created by Katherine Emrich for Professor Brockey’s History of the Book Fall 2017 Class
