Small Testament

Title: Small Testament

Author: Villon, François

Publication: Budapest: Kossuth Printing House, 1984.

Description: Miniature book containing an English translation of French medieval poet François Villon's "Le Petit Testament". Limited to 200 copies for the customers and business friends of Kossuth Printing House in Budapest, Hungary. With 8 color portraits, reproductions of oil paintings by Hungarian artist Endre Szász, printed by László Gyarmathy. Book designed by Hungarian book artist Tibor Szántó. Type set by hand in Monotype Garamond italics. Bound in full maroon Suedel Luxe Velur, a suede-like material, over boards, with gilt lettering and printed color portrait on gilt background. 3 x 2.25 inches; 56 unnumbered pages (first leaf blank). Light wear to the covers and a few spots of soiling on text edges, but a clean and crisp interior. A Near Fine and collectible copy of a rare miniature book.

François Villon is known as one of France's greatest lyric poets. "The Small Testament", also known as "Le Lais" ("Legacy" or "Bequests"), written by Villon in 1456, contains a list of mock bequests to friends and acquaintances. Villon was also known for being involved in a number of crimes, for which he was variously imprisoned and banished from Paris. Worldcat shows six institutional holdings for this edition. Note: Title page gives publication date of 1984, while colophon states 1983.