Gabriel-Charles de LATTAIGNANT

First edition.
Contemporary binding in full marbled blonde sheep. Spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons, as well as a red morocco title label. Gilt roulette on the edges and headcaps. All edges red.
Lower tail joint cracked for a few centimeters and some rubbing. Foxing mainly on the first and last leaves.
Lattaignant (1697-1779) was considered the great songwriter of his time (J'ai du bon tabac...); besides numerous songs, he is the author of light and gallant poetry of which Le mot et la chose is the most famous piece. In this respect the dedications of the songs or poems are very eloquent and summarize quite well the gallant and libertine spirit of this era. Voltaire, whom he admired, wrote this song for him: L'Atteignant chanta les belles ; Il trouva peu de cruelles, Car il sut plaire comme elles [...] The work contains annotations on each piece, which specify the subject and circumstances.

New edition after the collective edition of 1756, edited by abbé Delaporte; a first collective edition published under the title of Pièce dérobées in 1750 was produced by Meunier de Quelon, whose preface is found in the preliminary pieces. A medallion portrait of Garand as frontispiece. Numerous pages of sheet music with lyrics below in volumes 2, 3, 4.
Contemporary full marbled blonde calf binding. Raised-band spine decorated with 4 fleurons with roulette at head and foot. Red morocco title and volume labels. Blind-ruled frame on boards. A leather pastille covers the arms on each board. Library label at head. Handsome copy.
Lattaignant (1697-1779) was considered the great chansonnier of his era (J'ai du bon tabac...), besides numerous songs, he is the author of light and gallant poetry of which Le mot et la chose is the most famous piece. In this respect the dedications of the songs or poems are very eloquent and summarize quite well the gallant and libertine spirit of this period; at rear, a table lists the addresses and occasions that presided over the writing of the pieces. Voltaire, whom he admired, composed this song for him: L'Atteignant chanta les belles ; Il trouva peu de cruelles, Car il sut plaire comme elles [...]