Unique ensemble of works devoted to the philanthropic achievements of the Marquise d'Aligre (1776–1843).
Full olive-green calf, the spine slightly darkened, with five raised bands framed by triple gilt fillets and decorated with double gilt panels; gilt roll tools on the partially worn headcaps, rubbing to joints, gilt scrolling borders on the covers, gilt armorial device stamped at the centre of the upper cover, large blind-stamped fleuron at the centre of the lower cover; marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle border on the pastedowns, gilt edges somewhat dulled on the board edges, all edges gilt; lower corners softened; contemporary binding.
A few scattered spots.
The volume is bound with the arms of the Marquise d'Aligre’s husband, Étienne-Jean-François-Charles, Marquis d'Aligre (1770–1847), member of the Conseil général de la Seine in 1803, chamberlain to Caroline Murat (1804), peer of France under the Restoration, and supporter of the constitutional and liberal monarchy.
Louise Camus de Pontcarré, whom he married in 1810, was his second wife—and his first cousin.
"Femme de bien, possédant, comme son mari, une fortune considérable, elle s'associa à toutes ses oeuvres, les développant et en créant des nouvelles. Parmi celles-ci, il faut citer notamment l'asile d'Aligre à Chartres, l'hôpital d'Aligre à Bonneval (Eure-et-Loir), l'hôpital de Bourbon-Lancy (Saône-et-Loire)" [Dict. de biogr. française].
We provide below a detailed list of the pieces gathered in this volume:
- GRANDPERRET (Th.). Eloge de madame la marquise d'Aligre (…) Mémoire couronné par l'Académie royale des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Lyon. Lyon, Impr. et Lith. de Chanoine et Comp., 1846, 1 unnumbered leaf, 69 pp., double lithographed portrait on a tinted background. "La ville de Lyon se glorifie de posséder les plus beaux établissements que les particuliers aient élevés au soulagement des malheureux. Madame d'Aligre les vit et fut inspirée par ces grands exemples ! Il appartenait donc à l'Académie de Lyon de mettre au concours l'éloge de cette noble et charitable dame". These are the opening lines printed on the leaf bound after the half-title, followed by another leaf setting out the competition’s terms. – Inauguration de la chapelle et de la fontaine élevées à la mémoire de madame d'Aligre à Bourbon-Lancy. S.l., Impr. Gratiot, [1845], 2 unnumbered leaves.
- – CHALONS D'ARGE (A.P.). Madame la marquise d'Aligre. Sa vie, ses fondations, sa mort. [Paris], Impr. Gratiot, 1847, 2 unnumbered leaves and 29 pp. This pamphlet repeats the two introductory announcement leaves and the double lithographed portrait described above under "Grandperret". The half-title has been bound upside down.
- – GOUIN (Ed.). La marquise d'Aligre. Paris, Impr. Gratiot, 1847, 2 unnumbered leaves and 53 pp. With the two announcement leaves and the portrait.