[SAINT-CYR]. Reglemens et usages des classes de la Maison de - Lot 20

[SAINT-CYR]. Reglemens et usages des classes de la Maison de S. Louis etablie à S. Cir. Paris, s. n., 1696. In-16 (11.5 x 7 cm) of (6) ff. n. ch., 61, 90, 117, (2), 52, 17, (2) pp. in jansenist black morocco, ribbed spine, gilt title, gilt roulette on the edges and the covers, gilt edges (period binding). Rare first edition of the ""Constitutions"" of Mme de Maintenon's institution, founded in 1686: ""Regulations, traditions, everything had to be done. We didn't even have the example of convents, since it was a question of breaking with monastic practices. (...) In 1696, the ladies [of the institution], realizing the benefit they could draw from these instructions [letters, bills, memento written by Mme de Maintenon] for their own edification and for the preparation of the novices, had copies made. All that could be found was collected, both the familiar bills and the others, even those containing less flattering encouragement than useful criticism, and bound into volumes which were deposited in the community library. (...) Together, they constituted the fund on which Saint-Cyr lived for a century."" Octave Gréard in Nouveau dictionnaire de pédagogie et d'instruction primaire, ed. by Ferdinand Buisson, 1911. Small scratch on title, not serious (former bookplate?). A very fine copy. Expert : Madame Elvire POULAIN-MARQUIS