This lot consists of the volume "Histoire des comtes de Carcassonne" by Guillaume Besse (Beziers: Pour Arnaud Estradier, 1645). Guillaume Besse was known as the historian of the city of Carcassonne. Little is known about his life, though in this work he claims he was born in the city. By 1635, Besse was practicing law, leading scholars to assume that he was born around the turn of the seventeenth century. In this work--Besse's most famous--he employs historical documents to form critical analyses and portrayals of events in Carcassonne's history, including the reign of Charles VI, as well the legend of Lady Carcas defending the city against Charlemagne's army with her pig--a myth that has endured for centuries as the popular etiological story of the city's name. (J. Amiel: "Six famous Atacians, Carcassonne 1929: Guillaume Besse. "La Depeche du Midi" 12 and 26 January 1997.)

This antique volume is bound in full vellum, with handwritten title on the spine, and handwritten script on both the front and rear cover. The front cover reads "G. Besse 1813," and the rear "Besse de Carcassonne." The work is adorned with an engraved title page, depicting a woman, with a shield and bow and arrow, hovering over the walls of the city--perhaps Lady Carcas, as her shield bears a small animal emblem, appearing to be a dog or pig. The woman appears to be prepared to defend the city, wearing full, elaborate armor. The text is adorned with numerous engraved headpieces and decorative initials.

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The exterior of this volume shows wear, with rippling and creasing to the vellum--more pronounced on the rear cover. The wrappers are mildly soiled, with a few small spots of moisture and smudging. The text block of this volume is beginning to crack, with a few pages shaken, but remaining secure. The front and rear endpapers display edge tearing and rippling, and a number of ink notes appear on the front endpaper, most dated 1813. Moisture markings are visible throughout the interior, more pronounced at the front and rear of the volume. A mild insect hole extends from roughly leaf E through leaf P, measuring only 1.5" at its longest and obscuring only a few letters of text printed in the margins. Mild soiling can occasionally be seen on the pages. The decorative headpieces and initials show brightly. Volume measures 6" x 8.25".