THOU (Jacques Auguste de). […] Historiarum sui temporis. Part One. Paris: Published by the widow of Mamertus Patissonius, at the press of Robert Stephani, 1604. Small folio, light brown sheepskin, gold-toothed scrollwork framing the covers, ermine pattern, coat of arms in the center, ribbed spine decorated with the same motif, gilt edges (contemporary binding). FIRST EDITION, containing the uncensored text of the first eighteen books, before it was placed on the Index in 1609. From the libraries of the student Jean Merle, with a handwritten ex-praemio, Louis Jean Merle & Pierre Merle, and handwritten bookplates. Binding damaged; several quires loose; marginal water stains. Brunet, V, 840. PRIZE BOOK FROM THE COLLEGE OF QUIMPER FEATURING THE COAT OF ARMS OF FRANÇOIS DE COËTLOGON (1631–1706), BISHOP OF CORNOUAILLE IN 1668.