Histoire Generale des Larrons. Divisee en Trois Livres. I. Contenant les cruautez & meschantez des Voleurs. II. Des ruses & subtilitez des Couppeurs de Bourses. III. Les finesses, tromperies, & stratagemes des Filous.
Rouen : Chez Jean Berthelin, dans la Cour du Palais 1639. Cr. 8vo, [viii], 270, [xiv], 209, [vii], 236 pp, A-Z⁸, Aa-Zz⁸, Aaa⁶. small tear in blank foremargin od Ee4 with loss of one letter, not affecting legibility, 19th century full citron crushed morocco by Ramage, signed on lower front paste-down, marbled end papers, a.e.g. engraved armorial bookplate of “Sir Chas. E.H. Chadwyck Healey KCB. of Wyphurst in the County of Surrey one of His Majestys Counsel” laid over an earlier bookplate.
Parts II and III have separate title pages, viz II: Inventaire general de l'histoire des larrons; III: Suite de l'inventaire et histoire generalle des larrons.
As a subject of eternal interest this book went through numerous editions. Of the present edition however, we have only located two copies, Paris and Sydney. It is a “recueil des aventures des plus celebres voleurs depuis le regne de Henri IV jusqu'a l'epoque de l'impression de l'ouvrage. C'est, je crois, le livre le plus complet sur cette matiere; il contient le recit de 70 assassinats, vols et escroqueries" (Viollet Le Duc, "Bibl. poetique", 1847, t. II p. 216)
OCLC 220680495 [Univ. Sydney] USTC 6815025 [Ste Genevieve, Paris] Brunet 5me. Vol.3 col.204 [under “Histoire”]
If unsure of any of these terms click here to download a copy of Carter & Barker ABC for Book Collectors (2006).