1. Jacques-Auguste de Thou (1553-1617), historian and collector. As typical of the many books forming his legendary collection, his arms are gilt on covers and his monogram is repeated over the spine. This binding was certainly made one or two years after the publication of the work, as de Thou's arms and monogram are accompanied by those of his first wife, Marie Barbançon, died 1601 (Guigard, II, p. 452). In 1602, de Thou remarried and refashioned his binding style accordingly; bindings of this kind are far more common than those in the two earlier styles. He had only his most favourite volumes bound in this splendid red morocco and they constitute a small and highly prized part of his great collection.

2. Jean-Jacques de Bure (1765 1853), his autograph and bibliographical note on front pastedown, dated 10 October 1833. De Bure was part of one of the most influential dynasty of booksellers in France between the eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

3. O. Vernon Watney, his bookplate (Christie's, 7 June 1967, lot 134).

4. Robert S. Pirie, (1934-2015), American lawyer and avid collector of rare books and manuscripts, his bookplate on front endpaper (Sotheby's, 2 December 2015, lot 137).