Adrien-Michel-Hyacinthe BLIN DE SAINMORE

First edition, illustrated with a figure by Gravelot engraved by Allianet, a headpiece by Eisen and a tailpiece by Choffart, engraved by De Longueil. Fine printing, on deluxe paper.
Full brown sheep binding early 20th century signed Champs. Smooth Jansenist spine with gilt title and date. Minor rubbing to headcaps. Handsome copy. Blin de Sainmore composed this letter from Sappho after Ovid's heroic epistle on the same subject; Sappho writing to her lover before going to join him. The edition is enhanced with verses by Sappho translated by Boileau and Blin de Saimore. The composition of these editions by Blin de Saimore is very similar to those of Dorat, even using the same artists for ornamentation. Engraved bookplate E. Valton. 1880.

First edition, illustrated with a figure by Eisen engraved by Roubeau, a title vignette by the same engraved by Massard, and a tailpiece, this time engraved by Allianet. Printed on deluxe paper.
Full sheep binding from early 20th century signed Champs. Smooth Jansenist spine, with gilt title and date. Gilt fillet frame on boards. Minor rubbing to headcaps. Handsome copy. Blin de Sainmore, accustomed to literary and historical borrowings, chose in this work a tragic subject, confronting love and power in the relationship between Gabrielle d'Estrées and Henri IV, striving to paint the situation of the kingdom in these troubled times. The verse letter is preceded by an author's preface justifying his work, a verse epistle to Voltaire and a response from the latter. (One will notice the beautiful engraving after Eisen where Death endowed with her scythe and soaring with great black wings, hovers above Gabrielle looking at Henri IV's portrait). Engraved bookplate E. Valton. 1880.