A no less interesting fact is that, in the borders, the crowned C's are retained, which refer to Claude de France, the first wife of François I, who died in 1524 and was succeeded in 1530 by Eleonora of Austria.
We find also in this edition four unsigned cuts which do not appear in the quarto of 1524-1525:--
Fol. H 8. The Angelic Salutation; a special design, quarto size.
Fol. L 6. The Angelic Salutation; quite small, occupying only the upper part of a page.
Fol. R 7. The Trinity; small, with a special border.
Fol. V 3. The Virgin; small, with a special border.
The last two are taken from the 16mo Hours of 1529. The floriated letters are the same as in 'Champ fleury.'
Papillon, who speaks of this book,[256] without giving the title, and attributes it to Woeiriot, who was not born in 1531, expresses himself thus concerning it: 'I have seen an old book in which there are some of his engravings; it is an octavo, each page of which is surrounded by a decorative border, in compartments, of a beautiful gothic type. They are engraved very correctly, even though it is line engraving, which is so fine, so even and so accurate, that I am at a loss to understand how it could have been done. There are in this book fifteen or sixteen large cuts, also engraved in line; the drawing of the figures is passable. The little Lorraine cross, which Woeiriot used as a mark, may be seen in several places in the borders of this book.'
M. de Rothschild's copy of this edition has one interesting peculiarity: it is enriched by a large plate, unsigned, printed on an oblong half-sheet, representing the Triumph of the Virgin Mary, which seems to be an imitation of the Triumph of Apollo in 'Champ fleury.' The Virgin appears in a chariot drawn by unicorns; behind the chariot are the Captive Women; around the chariot, Prudence, Temperance, Justice and Strength; in front of the unicorns, Hope, Faith, Charity; and farther in front the Nine Muses, the Seven Liberal Arts, the handmaidens of the Virgin. In the background, we see the Virginal Palace, the Palace of Jesse, and the Temple of Honour. Beneath the picture is an explanation in French verse, which begins thus:--
'Les antiques Cesars triompherent par gloire, Mais par humilite (ainsi le faut il croire) La noble Vierge va triomphante en bon heur Du palais virginal jusquau temple dhonneur.'