. A motto binding. French, mid 16th century. Brown goatskin, blocked in gold with an architectonic design and E / SPOYR. / ME. / TOR / MEN. / TE in central oval on both covers. The motto ('hope torments me') is associated with Jean de Brinon (d. 1555), sieur de Villaines, the hero in Ronsard's Meslanges (1555). Mottos were tooled on bindings in the 16th and 17th centuries to indicate a book's ownership. En habes lector Bucolicarum auctores xxxviii. 1546. Bodleian Libraries, En habes lector Bucolicarum auctores xxxviii

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Photo credit: © The Picture Art Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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