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Second stage France, between 1553 (after 1568?) and 1587

While the manuscript was in the hands of André Thevet between 1553 and 1587, it was either bound for the first time or rebound with new endleaves of probably French paper at both ends (upper pastedown, folios i-ii, 72). The parallels between the endleaves’ main watermark (Pattern G) and French watermarks of the 1570s together with the apparent lateness of the Thevet signature on what is now the upper pastedown may indicate that he had it bound later rather than earlier in his period of ownership, maybe only after 1568-9 when he assumed the title Cosmographe du roi. The date 1571, written in an inscription in mirror writing on the last page of the Codex Mendoza (folio 71v) may also be relevant, though the rest of it is too heavily crossed out to be legible. This binding must have dated from before the passage of the manuscript to England in 1587, since the inscription bearing that date is written on folio ii verso. The first system of “7”-shaped quire signatures most likely dates from the time of this binding.