C. Hardy

Pirate edition of 1812, imprint dated 1796. It features the exact pagination of the genuine 1796 edition, as well as the 13 plates and 2 frontispieces by Monnet, Mlle Gérard and Fragonard fils engraved by Baquoy, Duplessi-Bertaux, Dupréel, Godefroy, Langlois, Lemire, Lingée, Masquelier, Patas, Pauquet, Simonet and Trière. The pirate edition is identified by the letters “R. p. D.” in the plates' lower margins, as they have been retouched by Delvaux. In addition, the fillet preceding the date on the title-page is wavy, and the title is presented in seven lines rather than eight.

Bound in full morocco, slight rubbing on the corners, all edges gilt, splendid binding signed by Hardy.

A very fine copy in a magnificent decorated full morocco binding by Hardy.

Second edition, with some parts of the text in first edition as reworked by the author, illustrated with an engraved frontispice by Jean-François Tourcaty.
Later binding (ca 1860) in red half morocco, richly decorated spine, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt retaining its deckled edges, binding signed Hardy. Some stains to boards, slight rubbing to joints and corners slightly bumped, very light foxing.

To make the strength of marriage consist in that of love is to go so far as to misunderstand the spirit of this institution.

Fourth edition revised from the first edition for the first volume, first edition for the second refuting the thesis that this novel is by Madame de La Fayette.
Handsome copy.
Full green morocco binding, spine with five raised bands set with gilt dots and decorated with double gilt compartments richly decorated, date and place gilt at center of spine, gilt roulettes on headcaps, frame of triple gilt fillets on boards, small black spots on first board, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, frame of gilt dentelle on pastedowns, lower corners very slightly bumped, double gilt fillets on leading edges, very elegant binding signed by Hardy.
Our copy is complete, as frontispiece, with two portraits of Madame de Sévigné and Madame de La Fayette engraved by Riffaut on China paper, with two folding facsimiles and its folding music plate at end of volume.

New edition, after the original of 1623. This edition is illustrated with 2 charming frontispieces and 11 unsigned figures. Each of the figures has an upper and lower part, as if they were two vignettes. All the illustrations have fine contrast and have been perfectly printed. This edition by the Hackes is part of the Elsevier collection. "The most attractive and most sought-after edition". Brunet III, 1931.
Later bindings (mid-19th century) in full green morocco, signed C. Hardy. Spine with five raised bands decorated with blind compartments. Double blind fillet on boards. Gilt decorative board-edges framing the pastedowns. All edges gilt. Spine slightly faded, otherwise handsome copy.
The attribution of this picturesque and picaresque novel on the customs of Paris under Louis XIII is long-standing, but Sorel himself disavowed the work. Brunet thinks that the novel originally had only seven parts, and that given its success, Sorel would have extended it with 5 new parts. However, the work is still currently attributed to Charles Sorel, who would himself have expurgated its obscenities by adding moral developments, for fear of censorship and lawsuits. The work forms one of the first and most important comic histories of French literature. The novel conducts several levels of narrative and is quite complex, heralding a genre that would have a strong influence on the 18th century: the episodic novel.

Edition presented with revised and corrected commentary, one of the rare copies printed on China paper.
Full navy morocco binding, spine with five raised bands set with gilt dots decorated with gilt double compartments enhanced with gilt typographical motifs, gilt friezes at head and foot, gilt roulettes on headcaps, triple gilt fillet frame on covers, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle frame on pastedowns, all edges gilt, double gilt fillets on leading edges, superb contemporary binding signed by Hardy.
Some foxing.
Handsome copy established in a perfect full morocco binding signed by Hardy.

New edition printed on laid paper and expanded with an introduction and notes by Charles Asselineau.
Full midnight blue morocco binding, spine with five raised bands set with gilt dots decorated with double compartments richly ornamented with typographical corner motifs and a gilt fleur-de-lys at their centers, gilt friezes at head and foot, gilt rolls on headcaps, triple gilt fillet frames on boards ornamented at corners with gilt fleur-de-lys, gilt rolls on pastedowns, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, double gilt fillets on leading edges, original wrappers preserved, all edges gilt, magnificent English binding signed by Hardy.
Work illustrated with a portrait of madame de Caylus as frontispiece as well as 4 figures engraved on steel by Leman.
Our copy is complete with the second state of the 5 illustrations.
Provenance: from the library of the comte de Cromer with his fine armorial bookplate engraved by J.F. Badeley and mounted on a pastedown.
Fine copy superbly bound in an English full morocco binding.