M. David

First edition of this ambitious illustrated history of France, published by François-Anne David in five volumes between 1787 and 1796. The illustration comprises five engraved titles and 140 full-page plates, here printed in sanguine on stout paper, each volume with a different ornamental border devised to correspond to the historical period it covers. The plates were engraved by David, chiefly after designs by Nicolas Lejeune. This copy belongs to the deluxe issue on wove paper with the plates printed in "bistre sanguin anglais", a format specifically advertised by David in 1794 alongside the ordinary issue printed in black.