Jean Ballesdens

Jean Ballesdens (1595, Paris - 1675, Paris) was a French lawyer, editor and bibliophile, though he has left practically no writings.

Life

A lawyer to the parlement de Paris and secretary to chancellor Séguier, he was elected to the Académie française in 1648 - though he had renounced a place when it was first offered him, in favour of Pierre Corneille. He collected books and formed a library that was the rival of his master's in terms of numbers, choice and the editions' beauty. Notable books from it were the nine volumes in Grolier bindings.

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Preceded by
Claude Malleville
Seat 8 of the
Académie française

1648-1675
Succeeded by
Géraud de Cordemoy