(Masson, Leon)illus. STANCES by Francois de Malherbe. Les Editions de la Nouvelle France, Paris, 1944. One of 35 hors commerce copies from a total edition of 395. Quarto, slipcase, chemise of boards, 144pp., poems and decorations (titles, portrait, initials, tailpieces, in red and black). Loose as issued, uncut full sheets of Johannot paper folded in quarters. Fine throughout. Francois Malherbe (1555-1628), was the official court poet, and became the "virtual literary dictator of France during the early 17th Century...he advocated of order, rationality and simplicity; opposing all colorful eccentricty in verse, he condemned the affectation, emotionalism, and decorative qualities of the late-baroque poets" (Benet, Reader's Encyclopedia).
