“This work is only a part of the fifth book by Rabelais” On a physical approach toward the case of The Fifth Book

This article seeks to study The Fifth Book of Pantagruel through the lens of the book’s history and origins, examining the available physical elements (watermarks, notes of ownership, old catalog numbers). The analysis highlights the significant evidence on The Fifth Book and on Rabelais’s manuscripts held in the vast collections of Mesmes, Colbert, and Baluze.