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[FRANCE].
Ordonnance du Roy Henry Troisiesme sur le faict de ses Monnoyes.
Rouen, Martin le Mesgissier, 1574.
£1950.00
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FIRST EDITION. 8vo. (in fours) 24 unnumbered ll. + one fldg. plate. A-F4 (-)1. Roman letter, woodcut arms of Henry III on title, another version on verso of last, typographical headpieces, 124 woodcuts of French and European coins, light age yellowing, small tears from outer blank margin of last leaf. A very good copy in C18 marbled paper wraps, a.e.r Rare first edition of this ordonnance of Henry III attempting to regulate the exchange of foreign currency in France. The preface, in the name of the queen mother Catherine De Medici, states that, despite the best efforts of most officers of the exchequer, they were still receiving many complaints that foreign currency, particularly in gold and silver, was being bought at excessive and illegal prices, thus devaluing the French currency. The ordonnance details these abuses, and the problems they cause, recognizing the need to act quickly "considerant que du bon ordre & reiglement desdictes Monnoyes, depend la principalle partie de la bonne police de nostre Royaume, & que ce mal croissant journellement se rendra a l'avenir toujours plus incurable." the exchequer recognizing the potential for massive inflation if they did not do so. The edict then lists the currencies accepted as legal tender in France and sets their exchangeable value, and prescribes the punishments for contravention. The last part describes the weight and exchangeable value of the sixty two French and Foreign coins accepted as legal tender with a woodcut illustration of both sides of each, the latter from Spain, Flanders, England, Venice, Hungary, Genoa, Milan, Portugal, Navarre and Holland. At the end is a decree from the Parliament of Rouen providing the punishment, for buying currency at an illegal rate, which was a beating and an unlimited fine, half of which would be paid to the King and half of which would be given to the person who reported the crime. A rare work: we have been able to find no copy of this Rouen edition, and there is even no mention of the Printer Martin le Mesgissier in the Répertoire bibliographique des livres imprimés en France au seizième Siècle. BM STC Fr. C16. p. 176. [Paris edition] Not in Kress, Goldsmith or the Répertoire bibliographique des livres imprimés en France au seizième Siècle.
L878
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