First edition of the French translation of Livy's Roman History by Pierre Du Ryer, historian, member of the French Academy and great translator for the Parisian booksellers of the period. This translation is accompanied by the supplements of Jean Freinsheim, philologist and historiographer to Queen Christina of Sweden, to whom Du Ryer dedicates the work. The edition also includes Florus's complete Summaries at the head of each book. Arms of Louis XIII engraved on the title page, text enhanced with engraved headpieces, initials and tailpieces.
Full calf binding, spine with 6 raised bands, later 18th-century red morocco title-label decorated with an eagle, arms of the Sade family of the Mazan branch, spine with author, title and volume number gilt, raised bands decorated with gilt fillet and compartments decorated with grotesques surrounded by double gilt fillet, gilt fillet on the leading edges. Boards reinforced at the joints with reused parchment visible under the white paper endpapers, probably a notarial deed. Handsome copy representative of the work of Parisian binders of the mid-17th century, found in the great collections of the period.
Fine condition, small dampstains in upper margin not touching the text, small hole with loss of a few letters on p.223, some rare scattered worming and browned leaves, slight bookworm damage.
Rare provenance from the library of the Sade family, of the Mazan branch, inherited by Donatien Alphonse de Sade, the Divine Marquis. The book would have been acquired by Abbé Jacques François Paul Alfonce de Sade, scholar and libertine, probably kept at the château de Saumane during the abbé's lifetime and at his death was transferred to the Sade family collection at the château de Condé after 1814. It has not left the Sade collection since. (Sources: Thibault de Sade, direct descendant of the Marquis)
Manuscript note from the beginning of the second half of the 17th century on the upper pastedowns of each volume. Characteristic indication of public sales of great Parisian libraries in the 17th century with the price in livres tournois and the name of the dealer. On the first volume "20 lt Nicolas [...]", the name is covered in ink with the addition below in a later date by another hand "1658", probably an acquisition date, and on the second volume "30 lt Nicolas [...]" with the addition of the date as on the first volume.
Prestigious provenance.
First edition on ordinary paper.
Work decorated with a frontispiece illustration by Joan Miro.
Very precious autograph inscription signed by Janine Queneau to her great friend Boris Vian: "A Boris dont je crains d'avoir bien mal suivi les conseils. Avec beaucoup d'affection. Janine." ["To Boris, whose advice I fear I have followed very poorly. With much affection. Janine."]
Provenance: Boris Vian Foundation.
First edition of one of the most beautiful books of the 18th century, of which the text and the music are entirely engraved$. It is illustrated with an engraved title, 3 frontispieces by Le Bouteux and Le Barbier, a dedication page with the Dauphine arms, and 100 figures by Moreau le Jeune, Le Barbier, Le Bouteux and Saint-Quentin, finely engraved in copperplate by Masquelier and Née. The portrait of Laborde, which can be found on some copies, is not part of this edition and was printed in 1774, separately.
Dentelle bindings in full navy blue morocco, signed by Bruyère at the bottom of the pastedown endpaper. Slipcase covered with a blue marbled paper, suede interior, lined with navy leather; a wide navy silk riband allows the works to be taken out. Spine in five compartments very richly adorned with decorated panels and small finishing tools, fillet at the top and the bottom. Boards framed with fillets and large gilt lace work tooling with fleurons in the corner pieces. Leading edges and spine-ends highlighted with double gilt fillets. Large interior frieze. Overall immaculate paper, with some rare foxing in volume I. Slipcase rubbed on the top. Tiny, miniscule signs of rubbing on 2 spine-ends, one compartment and one leading edge. Very large margins.
Large library label: Morel de Voleine.
Magnificent copy bound in 4 volumes, very rare condition. There are usually only copies with 2 volumes for understandable cost issues. It is also very rare to find volumes of this colour that are not faded or sundamaged.
