A new duodecimo edition of the most celebrated work by the writer and historian Charles Pinot Duclos, published in the same year as the first edition. According to the Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes et pseudonymes of 1822, "the edition without place of publication, 1751, 12mo, in large type"—the present edition—"should be preferred to that bearing Prault's name, 1751, which contains a dedicatory epistle to the King." (our own translation)
Fine contemporary binding in polished tan calf, spine with five raised bands, highlighted with a gilt roll, decorated with five compartments richly gilt with mascles and ermines, repeated on the boards within a blind fillet border, brown morocco lettering-piece, gilt fillet on boards edges, edges stained red, turn-ins tooled in gilt palmette pattern, oak-leaf patterned pastedowns and endpapers. A copy stamped with the heraldic charges (ermines and mascles) of the Rohan family, or more precisely of the Rohan-Guémené, Rohan-Rochefort, or Rohan-Soubise branches.
Joints slightly split for 2.2 cm and 0.5 cm on upper boards, light rubbing to board edges and corners, three library labels affixed to upper pastedown and verso of front free endpaper. Minor marginal tears to p. 281 and pp. 361-366, author's name annotated in black ink on title page: "Par Mr. Duclos de l'Acad. franç."