Le <i>Livre des mestiers de Paris</i> d’Étienne Boileau : un regard sur la tradition textuelle

Abstract The Livre des mestiers de Paris , attributed to the provost Étienne Boileau (1200/1210–1270), was edited twice in the 19 th century (Depping 1837; Lespinasse/Bonnardot 1879), yet it has primarily attracted the attention of historians. Philologists and linguists, by contrast, have shown less interest in both its content and the history of its textual tradition. This study aims to re-examine the textual transmission of Boileau’s Livre from a philological perspective. A reassessment of the manuscript tradition now expands our knowledge to ten manuscripts, including both complete copies and various excerpts. Particular attention is given to the places of manuscript production, such as the prévôté at the Châtelet in Paris, the prévôté des marchands at the Hôtel de Ville, and the Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève. Marginal annotations, additions, and omissions provide further insight into the relationships between these witnesses. Lastly, this study will offer a critical reflection on the concepts of error, variant, and textual reading within this type of documentary text.