Fine Bindings

Charming illustrated edition featuring, as the frontispiece to the first volume, a portrait of Alfred de Musset after the original painting by Charles Landelle, together with 28 drawings by Alexandre Bida; one of the numbered copies printed on laid paper.

Bound in full midnight-blue Russian morocco, spines with five raised bands gilt-tooled with garlands and decorated with gilt fillets and blind-stamped typographical ornaments, gilt rolls to the spine ends, gilt dates at the foot, a few joints slightly split at the head or tail, covers framed with quintuple gilt fillets, gilt armorial bearings stamped at the centres, red moiré silk endleaves and doublures, gilt dentelle border to...

First edition of the Gospels in Pierre Dassance’s translation. In addition to the four Gospels, it contains an extensive section on Jerusalem with 2 hand-coloured maps and 10 mounted China-paper engravings. The edition is illustrated with 10 steel engravings within elaborate Renaissance-style borders featuring birds, angels, scrolling foliage, and ornamental motifs. Every page of text is likewise surrounded by decorative borders of several repeating designs. Chromolithographic frontispiece and opening page with hand-illuminated title vignette and large historiated initial. A finely produced edition issued by Curmer.

Contemporary full red morocco binding. Spine with raised bands...

Rare new edition based on the first French translation, produced in 1699 by William Popple and published by the Widow of J. van Dyck. A major work by Martin Clifford, originally published anonymously in 1674 under the title A Treatise of Humane Reason, which provoked immediate controversy within the Anglican Church; in the tradition of Spinoza and anticipating Locke, the author assigns a prominent role to reason in the practice of Christian faith. Clifford's more radical positions are thought to have been moderated in the French translation.

A fine large-paper copy on vellum of the 1796 edition, which contains several previously unpublished texts by the author, a frontispiece portrait, 13 illustrations and 2 maps, engraved by Pierre-Alexandre Tardieu, Claude-Nicolas Malapeau, P. F. Tardieu, A. Girardet, Jean Louis Charles Pauquet, François Denis Née, Emmanuel-Jean-Népomucène de Ghendt, Charles Emmanuel Patas, Noël Le Mire and Vincent-Marie Langlois (in order of appearance).

Contemporary half long-grain red morocco bindings, smooth spines divided by...

First edition on standard paper.

Bradel binding in full moiré silk with a leaf pattern, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleuron and gilt date at the foot, green morocco lettering piece, fore-edge and tail edges untrimmed, binding signed in blind on the upper pastedown [E.T.] Pierson, the Goncourt brothers' binder of choice.
Silk at the headcaps slightly rubbed, corners worn, light rubbing to the lettering piece.

A fine copy, with a few very faint fox spots and one paragraph marked with a pencilled marginal bracket at p. 61.

First edition, one of the deluxe copies on alfa, this one an unnumbered hors commerce, only deluxe issue after 10 copies on Arches.

Full blue-gray morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, gilt date at foot, yellow box calf doublure, watered silk free endpapers, original wrappers including spine bound in, all edges gilt, half morocco chemise in panels, wood motif paper boards, slipcase edged in morocco, wood motif paper boards lined with blue felt, outstanding binding signed Hélène Alix.

Unrecorded...

First edition of this ambitious work recounting the history of power in France from Clovis, by a man of letters who two years later would be elected to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres.

Contemporary bindings in marbled brown calf, spines with five raised bands framed by a gilt roulette, further decorated with compartments of gilt fleurons in the form of pomegranates, light brown morocco title and numbering pieces, gilt fillet on the board edges, red edges, pastedowns and endpapers of shell-pattern...

First edition of the four volumes, issued successively between 1883 and 1886. Rich and remarkable iconography featuring 36 chromolithographic plates, 187 plates, and 1,256 illustrations in the text. Translation and arrangement by Madame de Witt, who compiled the texts in order to present them as a chronological history. Complete sets in the correct edition are relatively scarce.
Striking publisher’s binding, with elaborate gilt decoration, signed A. Souze. Red half morocco with red percaline boards. Large gilt panel on the spine depicting an oak tree with two fleurs-de-lys and a shield charged with fleurs-de-lys, as well as shell ornaments at the foot. Large and intricate gilt panel on...

First edition, at one time attributed to Bernard Le Bouyer de Fontenelle, on the loves of a shepherd of illustrious lineage: Mirtil, son of Venus and Adonis. Complete copy with its engraved title page by Louis Legrand and its six plates drawn by Hubert François Gravelot and engraved by Louis Legrand.

Half marbled calf binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with dotted gilt fillets, five compartments richly gilt with fillets and fleurons, pebble-pattern marbled paper boards, red edges, pastedowns and...

First edition of a work by an Illuminist author, also a barrister at the Parlement, known for his licentious and libertine writings, including L'Histoire de Dom Bougre, portier des Chartreux. This work was also at one time attributed to Pierre Lambert de Saumery, who published under the pseudonym "de Mirone."

Midnight blue half morocco with corners, spine with five gilt raised bands decorated with compartments richly gilt with arabesques, fillets and small stars, marbled paper boards framed with gilt...

First edition. 

Official series not recorded by Polak. 

Contemporary full cherry-red morocco binding, smooth spine decorated with gilt Romantic arabesques, gilt roll tooling partly worn at the spine ends, covers with a wide panel of sextuple gilt fillets and Romantic arabesques, corner ornaments in gilt, crowned "FO" cipher stamped in gilt at the centre of each cover, doublures and endpapers lined with azure watered silk, gilt garland frame to the doublures, corners slightly rubbed, all edges gilt, an elegant Romantic binding of the period.

A few dark stains to the covers, occasional foxing mainly affecting the endpapers.

Copy from the library of Ferdinand-Philippe...

First edition of the French translation prepared by Stanislas Julien. 

Contemporary half havana shagreen over corners binding, spine in five raised bands ruled in gilt and decorated with double gilt and blind-stamped panels, date gilt at foot, a few minor rubs to the spine, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, top edge gilt, covers and spine mounted and restored and preserved, binding signed F. Saulnier.

Pages 409–415 present, at the upper right corners, tears without loss affecting the text which have been restored, with an additional restoration to the title-page. Faded manuscript note on the half-title.

From the collection "Voyages des...

First edition (cf. Sinkankas 3165. Lorenz X, p. 8.)

Contemporary-style binding in half tobacco calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt and blind fillets as well as blind fleurons, black morocco title label, marbled paper boards, wrappers partially soiled and preserved, modern binding signed Laurenchet.

Some foxing.

Crystallization, the diamond in antiquity, characteristics, composition, origin, attempts at artificial production, deposits (India, Oceania, Brazil, the Cape, various mines), cutting, trade, paragons or principal known diamonds.

Henri Jacobs, born in Antwerp, was a diamond merchant in Paris.

First edition, published in Paris by Nepveu in 1812 in six volumes, illustrated with 72 engraved plates by Lambert, most of them reduced from those in Dalvimart’s Costume of Turkey, published in London in 1802. Complete with all plates; without the binder’s directions and the leaf concerning the orthography of Arabic words, both of which are absent from many copies.

Contemporary full mottled tan calf. Smooth spines, slightly faded, decorated with gilt...

First issue of the 250 wood-engraved compositions by Edmond Morin, one of 150 numbered copies on Holland paper.

The work is further illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author by Léopold Flameng.

Bound in half orange morocco over marbled boards with corners, spine with five raised bands ruled in gilt and richly tooled with double gilt compartments, covers framed with double gilt fillets, marbled endpapers, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt, an elegant binding signed A. Bertrand.

A fine copy, impeccably presented.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Contemporary Bradel binding in red half morocco with corners, smooth spine, date gilt at foot, covers of marbled paper framed with blind fillets, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an attractive period binding signed Bernasconi.

Occasional foxing, chiefly affecting the opening leaves.

Signed autograph inscription from Claude Farrère to M. Briquet.

Facing the limitation page, this copy is enriched with an original watercolour signed by Henri Leclerc depicting the heroine of the work leaning against a ship’s bulwark, her suitor standing slightly...

First edition of each volume, one of 15 numbered copies on chine, deluxe issue after 2 copies on peau de vélin.

Contemporary half blue morocco over marbled boards with corners, spine in five raised bands ruled in gilt and tooled with double gilt compartments, date gilt at foot, covers framed with gilt fillets, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, ex-libris mounted on a pastedown, corners slightly rubbed, top edge gilt, signed contemporary binding.

A few minor spots of foxing, chiefly to the edges, a small nick to one band, light rubbing to the headcap.

First edition, printed in 300 copies on wove vellum.

Contemporary full caramel calf binding, smooth spine lavishly gilt with decorative tools, upper joint split at the head, upper cap shaved, brown morocco title label, gilt roll tooling to the caps, triple gilt fillet frame with gilt corner fleurons on the boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt roll tooling to the board edges, rubbed corners; binding of the period.

Bookseller’s description label pasted onto a flyleaf, a few pencil annotations in the margins of certain paragraphs, occasional foxing.

Illustrated edition with a frontispiece and 19 black vignette illustrations in the text by Marianne Clouzot, one of 675 numbered copies printed on vélin de lana.

Full caramel box binding, smooth spine, the illustrator’s name gilt at the foot, moiré-effect paper endleaves and doublures, cold-ruled fillet frames to the doublures, original covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, slipcase with inner flaps in caramel box with bands, moiré-effect paper sides, the slipcase edged in caramel box with moiré-effect paper panels; binding slightly later, signed Gavallet.

Like the 50 numbered copies printed on Arches paper, our copy exceptionally includes, at the end of the volume, a...

First edition printed in a small number of copies.
Half red morocco binding with corners, smooth spine decorated with a gilt panel and floral tools, enhanced with a grey mosaic morocco onlay, gilt date at foot, gilt fillet framing on the marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt top edge, binding signed Charles Lanoë.
Illustrated with a fine frontispiece drawn and engraved by Félix Bracquemond.
An attractive copy, handsomely bound.

First edition, one of 16 numbered copies on pur fil, the deluxe issue following 6 copies on Montval paper.

Half hazelnut morocco binding, spine with four raised bands ruled in gilt and decorated with double gilt panel compartments, date gilt at the foot, sides of cat’s-eye paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, bookplate pasted to a pastedown, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, untrimmed, contemporary signed binding by Albinhac.

A fine copy attractively bound.

Illustrated first edition, with a frontispiece portrait of Talleyrand.

A few light spots of foxing, mainly affecting the opening leaves.

Contemporary full caramel polished calf, spine with five raised bands ruled in gilt and decorated with double gilt compartments, author’s name in red morocco, title label in dark blue morocco, gilt date at foot, gilt rolls to the headcaps, covers framed with a double gilt fillet, a few small stains and light scuffs at the upper edges of the boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle border to the turn-ins, double gilt fillets to the edges, gilt top edge. An elegant binding of the period.

A fine, attractively bound...

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Shadowed endpapers.

Half chocolate-brown morocco binding with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt panels enhanced with black morocco onlays, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, handmade paper endpapers and doublures, original wrappers and spine preserved, bookplate pasted to an endpaper, top edge gilt on untrimmed leaves, an elegant binding signed Pierre-Lucien Martin at the foot of the spine.

A fine, wide-margined copy beautifully bound by Pierre-Lucien Martin, one of the most gifted bookbinders of the second half of the twentieth century.

Expanded new edition including a notice and an appendix providing a catalogue of the principal violin makers from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, a description of the most sought-after violins, their dates of manufacture, their market value, and the distinguishing features by which they may be identified, by L. de Pratis.

Half chocolate-brown morocco binding with corners, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, gilt date at foot, marbled paper sides, marbled endpapers and doublures, illustrated wrappers and spine preserved (with a small loss at foot), gilt top edge, signed binding by H. Blanchetière.

A fine copy attractively bound in a signed binding.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on Japan paper, the only deluxe paper issue.

Bound in full burgundy morocco, spine with five raised bands ruled in black, gilt rolls to the headcaps, moiré-effect paper endleaves and doublures, inner boards framed with gilt fillets, dotted tools and corner fleurons, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses, double gilt fillets to the turn-ins, slipcase edged in burgundy morocco with sides covered in moiré-effect paper, contemporary signed binding by Vauthrin-Pezet.

A fine, beautifully executed copy.

First edition, one of 60 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the deluxe issue after 30 copies on Japan paper.

Full red morocco binding, spine slightly toned with five raised bands ruled in black, gilt date at foot, minor unobtrusive rubbing to the bands, gilt rolls to the headcaps, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle frame and double gilt fillet to the inside covers, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt stippling to the edges, top edge gilt.

A fine copy, attractively bound.

A fine edition complete with all 12 steel engravings with tissue guards after paintings by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Philippe de Champaigne, and Hyacinthe Rigaud, and its chromolithographic title page. Leafs containing the Discourse on Universal History  framed by floral, zoomorphic, figural and armorial interlaced borders. This copy is further enhanced with elaborate decorated initials and tailpieces, and a black-and-white frontispiece opening each part.

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...

Complete copy comprising two translations by Nicolas Perrot d'Ablancourt, whose works are commonly known as "belles infidèles" (beautiful but unfaithful translations). Between 1662 and 1795, no other translation of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War was published. The privilege granted to the bookseller Clousier in 1712 was shared among several booksellers, including Michel-Étienne David, Nicolas Gosselin, and Jean-Geoffroy Nyon.

Contemporary full brown calf, gilt spines with five raised bands and four compartments decorated with plain and dotted fillets enclosing fleuron tools, tan morocco lettering-pieces, numbering-pieces within gilt...

First edition, illustrated with full-page 65 plates.

Occasional light foxing.

Blue morocco half-binding, spine with five raised bands ruled and decorated in gilt with gilt floral tools, marbled boards, marbled endpapers, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt; bookplate on front pastedown.

A handsome copy in an attractive binding.

First quarto edition, complete with all volumes and plates, commonly referred to as the “Third Edition” of the Encyclopédie, and also known as the “Encyclopédie de Pellet” or “Encyclopédie de Lyon” or “Encyclopédie du Lac” by Simon-Nicolas-Henri Linguet.

Full marbled and polished brown sheepskin contemporary bindings, spines with five raised bands and four gilt compartments decorated with pomegranate gilt tools, two gilt decorative rolls at foot, title and volume lettering-pieces in red and green morocco, boards twice framed in blind, board edges gilt, all red edges, marbled pastedowns and...

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on “light green paper,” the only deluxe paper issue announced.

Turquoise half morocco binding, smooth spine, date in gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, endpapers, and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; an elegant contemporary binding signed by G. Gauché.

A very handsome copy, finely bound by Georges Gauché and complete with its publisher's prospectus. 

Signed presentation inscription by René Crevel: "My dear Georges, here, in its finest form: Diderot’s Harpsichord, if you can help him play his music? With all my affection. René" (our own...

First edition.

Green half morocco with corners, spine with five raised bands and blind-tooled compartments, a few rubs to the spine, marbled paper sides, comb-marbled endpapers and doublures, sprinkled edges, contemporary binding.

Georges Perrot (1832–1914), a French Hellenist and archaeologist, undertook in 1861, together with the architect Edmond Guillaume and the travelling physician Jules Delbet, a scientific and literary mission to Greece and Asia Minor on behalf of the French Ministry of Public Instruction, the results of which were published in 1872.

He would later be the author, with Charles Chipiez, of the monumental Histoire de l'art dans l'Antiquité, Égypte...

Rare Grenoble imprint.

Bound in full midnight-blue long-grain morocco, smooth spine decorated with gilt chain motifs and compartments finely tooled with a lattice of gilt fillets and small fleurons, gilt rolls to the headcaps, covers framed with a double gilt dentelle, marbled endpapers, gilt gauffered turn-ins and headcaps, gilt edges; an elegant contemporary binding.

Manuscript ex-dono on a flyleaf.

First edition printed on laid paper and illustrated with numerous tables embellished with Chinese ideograms.
Contemporary full brown Russia morocco binding, spine slightly faded, with five raised bands decorated with triple black panels, a few rubs to the spine, gilt initials W. H. W. to the centre of the upper cover, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, triple gilt fillet border to the pastedowns, all edges gilt, double gilt fillets to the turn-ins, corners slightly bumped, unsigned period binding attributable to R. Petit.
Born in Poland, Michel-Alexandre Kleczkowski (1818–1886) served as Consul General of France, Minister Plenipotentiary in China, and Professor...

First edition of the French translation.

Loukia Droulia (849) records this work without having been able to examine it. Not in Blackmer and Atabey, who describe the English edition published the same year (A narrative of Lord Byron's last journey to Greece).

Contemporary full mottled beige calf, flat spine elaborately decorated with gilt garlands and fleurons, red morocco lettering piece, minor rubbing at the foot of the joints, gilt tooling to spine-ends, borders of gilt dotted rules, gilt garlands to the boards also framed in gilt, edges framed in gilt, marbled edges.

A few minor and unobtrusive spots.

Pietro Gamba (1801-1826) was the brother of...

New edition of the French translation known as the Port-Royal version, prepared by the theologian Louis-Isaac Le Maistre de Sacy.

The first edition of this “Nouveau Testament de Mons” had appeared in 1667.

This is the final edition printed by Daniel Elzevier.

Contemporary full black morocco, spine with five raised bands gilt with decorative rolls and richly gilt compartments, minor rubbing to spine and boards, covers framed with triple gilt fillets and gilt corner fleurons, red morocco doublures entirely covered with an elaborate gilt interlacing design and small dotted tools, comb-marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, corners slightly bumped, gilt rolls to the turn-ins...

First edition of the penultimate royal military yearbook issued (cf. Grand-Carteret, Almanachs, 158; Saffroy, Almanachs et annuaires, 306).

This comparatively scarce state was published without interruption from 1744 to 1789.

A transverse fold affecting the upper cover, with a tear to the verso.

Contemporary old red morocco, smooth spine gilt with friezes and fleurs-de-lys, covers framed with triple gilt fillets, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt rules to the edges, corners rubbed, all edges gilt; contemporary binding.

Our copy contains numerous contemporary cancellations and manuscript additions within the text; followed by 15 unnumbered leaves filled...

First edition (cf. Grand-Carteret, Almanachs, 158; Saffroy, Almanachs et annuaires, 306).

Contemporary full old red morocco, smooth spine gilt with friezes and fleurs-de-lys, one joint split at the head, boards framed with triple gilt fillets, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, bookplate laid down on a pastedown, gilt edges to the boards, corners slightly rubbed, all edges gilt; binding of the period.

This rather scarce issue was published without interruption from 1744 to 1789. 

Provenance: from the library of the heraldist Olivier Le Bas, with bookplate laid down on a pastedown.

An attractive copy, handsomely bound in contemporary full red morocco.

First edition, privately printed in a small number of copies as an offprint from La Patrie of 16 and 18 November 1883.

The CCFr records copies only at the BnF, the Bibliothèque Thiers and Compiègne.

Contemporary navy-blue half morocco over marbled-paper boards, with corners, spine with five raised bands, boards framed with blind fillets, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original front wrapper bound in, corners rubbed, top edge gilt.

Some foxing.

The text is a funeral tribute to Odilon Barrot’s last surviving brother, who, like him, was both a lawyer and a politician, though as staunchly Bonapartist as his elder brother was a leading figure of left-wing...

Rare first edition (subsequent editions incorporated the successive campaigns, ultimately forming a set of five volumes).

Only two copies of this edition recorded in the CCF (Rouen, Tours).

Nineteenth-century binding in cherry long-grain half morocco with corners, smooth spine ruled in gilt, red paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

Minor black marks to the spine, a few light spots of foxing.

The attribution to Thomas Graham, Baron Lynedoch (1748-1843), is traditional; if correct, the work is by a participant in the campaign, who embarked relatively late on his military career: in 1795 he was stationed at Gibraltar, but soon wearied of garrison...

First edition of this short work intended as a supplement to the Voyage dans le Levant by the same author: Auguste de Forbin (1777–1841) indeed undertook this journey in 1820, one year after returning from his extensive expedition to the Middle East, officially carried out in his capacity as Director of the Royal Museums.

Contemporary half caramel sheep, smooth spine decorated with gilt fillets and garlands and blind-stamped ornaments, gilt rolls at head and foot of spine, joints slightly split at head and foot, blind-stamped palmette decorations to marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns of vat paper, marbled edges.

Our copy is complete with its engraved...

First illustrated edition, featuring at the end of the volume 12 charming hand-coloured copper engravings depicting fashionable hairstyles and costumes (10), as well as furniture (2).

Contemporary binding in half midnight-blue calf, smooth spine decorated with lozenge tools and gilt fillets, gilt tail ornament, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, marbled edges.

The work is also illustrated with a portrait of Bonaparte as a frontispiece and one plate hors-texte.

Foxing, black ink stains to page 81.

This work, intended for an American readership, as stated in the Preface ("L'espèce de journal dont nous offrons ici le premier essai, ne contiendra que rarement...

First edition of these travel recollections, written in the form of letters in prose and verse addressed to Saintine, friend and collaborator of the playwright Jacques Ancelot (1794-1854), who had accompanied Marshal Marmont to the festivities marking the coronation of Tsar Nicholas I.

Contemporary quarter blond calf with small green corners, smooth spine decorated with blind fillets and ornaments and gilt decorative rolls at head and foot, green calf lettering-piece, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges; binding signed Thouvenin at foot of spine.

Lower joint split with a small loss, upper joint split and subsequently reglued, some foxing...

First edition, no copies on deluxe paper issued.

Half light brown morocco binding, flat spine with author stamped in gilt and title stamped in gilt lengthwise, gilt date at foot, brown stingray boards framed in morocco, brown suede endpapers and pastedowns, original covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, elegant binding signed Thomas Boichot.

Manuscript ex-libris in black ink and a slight restoration to the upper right corner of the first...

Unique copy printed on vellum and numbered 1, the deluxe issue of this very rare first edition, limited to 25 numbered copies.

Printer's proof stamp on the half-title: "E. Capiomont & Cie imprimeurs. 37, rue de Seine, Paris 30Janvier 188. Epreuve"

Full chocolate-brown morocco, spine very slightly faded with four raised bands, date and the word "Épreuves" lettered in gilt at foot, gilt rolls to headcaps, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, pastedowns framed with six gilt fillets, original wrappers preserved, top edge gilt, double gilt fillets to board edges, bookplate pasted to one pastedown; matching chocolate-brown morocco-edged slipcase with marbled-paper...

First edition, with all the features of first issue copies, including the misprint “Sénart” on the dedication leaf.

Contemporary plum-coloured 3/4 morocco binding signed by Georges Huser, spines with five raised bands, numerously ruled in blind, with a gilt floral tool at centres, dates in gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, top edges gilt, bookplates on each front pastedown. Complete with the publisher’s catalogue at the end of the first volume.

A very handsome copy, elegantly bound by Georges Huser, with the...

First edition, limited to 1,100 copies, divided into four fictitious editions within the same year, in order to create the illusion of commercial success. These were subsequently reissued with a new title-page bearing an edition statement and the author’s name, together with a volume designation on the half-titles (cf. Clouzot). Our copy carries the designation “third edition.” Contemporary bookplate traces on the upper pastedowns. Expert restorations to headcaps and joints, with a tiny loss at the foot of the lower joint of vol. I. A clean copy, entirely free of foxing.

Contemporary half chocolate calf bindings...

First edition.
Full olive morocco binding, smooth spine lavishly decorated with gilt fillets, rolls and fleurons, red morocco title-label, gilt rolls and tools, covers stamped with dentelle decoration, central monogram "CB" stamped at center of covers and framed by multiple fillets and rolls and surmounted by a ribbon, roll border on covers, gilt dentelle interior, pink marbled paper pastedowns and endpapers, gilt fillet on edges, all edges gilt, contemporary binding attributable to the great binder Derôme le jeune. Marginal tear with loss of one word and page number (p. 57). Marginal tear without loss p. 113 and p. 451. Very light rubbing on half a centimeter of the upper joint...

First edition of this complete suite of 18 numbered intaglio plates enhanced in colour, on 'J. Honig & Zoonen' laid paper, depicting 72 merchants accompanied by captions beneath each figure.
First printing, subsequent editions will feature individually numbered figures surrounded by a border.

Bound in half sienna morocco with corners, smooth spine, title stamped in gilt throughout, tiger patterned paper boards, combed paper endpapers and flyleaves, first cover retained, gilt head.
 
Extremely rare and the earliest known suite of prints depicting itinerant merchants and pedlars in Spain. Each figure is...

First edition, one of 8 numbered copies on Chinese paper, the deluxe issue.
Bound in full red morocco, smooth spine, spine and boards decorated with a geometric design of black and gilt fillets representing interlaced mountain peaks in zigzag pattern, endpapers and pastedowns illustrated with an original lithograph signed in pencil by Germaine de Coster, following endpapers of red paper, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt; a very elegant contemporary binding signed by Hélène Dumas and Germaine de Coster.
This copy is further enriched with an original charcoal portrait of Jean Giono, signed by...

First edition, one of 200 numbered copies on Hollande paper, the only large paper copies.

3/4 blue morocco Bradel binding, spine with five raised bands highlighted with gilt dots and decorated with triple gilt compartments, gilt date at tail, gilt fillets on marbled paper boards, marbled paper flyleaves and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, others uncut, binding signed Canape.

Rare copy of Guy de Maupassant's masterpiece beautifully bound in an elegant signed binding.

New illustrated edition with 22 plates by Célestin Nanteuil, and some headpieces. Text adapted for young readers. Translation by Le Prince Le brun. First edition of this version for young readers.
Publisher's polychrome mosaic cartonnage binding. Smooth spine with ornaments on red, green and cream ground. Upper cover decorated with 4 shields, 2 red and 2 blue, and a portrait of Tasso on cream ground, all set against Renaissance interlacing patterns. Blind-ruled frame on covers. Edges gilt. On the lower cover, a very elaborate shield on green ground. Tinted paper throughout. Dark traces on the lemon endpapers. Some very occasional and light foxing.

A very handsome...

Illustrated edition with 38 original engravings by Ling Chou, copper-engraved and hand-printed in sanguine, printed in 134 nominative and numbered copies on double Yu-Pan China paper.
The book, separated into two fascicles hand-sewn and covered in green moiré silk, is protected by two black lacquer plates and laces, work of the master lacquerer Tchou-Tze-Tsin.
The whole is contained in a moiré silk case closed by two ivory clasps, following the illustrator's design.
The case is partially and lightly discolored, with a light stain at the head of the first board of the case, handsome copy.
Signatures of Ling Chou, of the president and vice-president of the...

Very rare and highly sought-after first edition according to Clouzot, for which no copies on large paper were issued.

Full red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands, gilt rolls on headcaps, inner dentelle border on off-white morocco pastedowns enhanced with a red morocco mosaic fillet and quintuple gilt fillets, the fillet and quintuple gilt fillets interlacing at corners, gilt fillet border on turn-ins, ivory watered silk endpapers, iron-grey wrappers and spine preserved (Clouzot notes two states of wrappers: iron-grey - the rarer - and bluish-grey), all edges gilt, double gilt fillets on board edges, half red morocco slipcase with bands, spine with five raised bands...

Complete new edition of Buffon's works, published in Paris by Eymery between 1825 and 1828 according to the arrangement established by the Comte de Lacépède and completed by the supplementary volume issued in 1828. A handsome complete set in 26 bound volumes (13.5 × 21 cm; total shelf length: 103 cm), illustrated with 245 plates: Buffon's portrait engraved by Devéria as the frontispiece, 216 hand-coloured plates - some heightened with gold - including 91 devoted to mammals and 126 to birds, 13 plates in black, and 4 folding maps. Most of the coloured plates were executed by Jean-Gabriel Prêtre, the animal painter successively attached to Empress Joséphine's menagerie...

New deluxe edition printed by Didot on deluxe vellum paper. Includes two superb engravings by Moreau, engraved by Giraud. Critical edition with preface, annotations, and Plutarch's Life of Phocion in Amyot's translation.
Copy bearing the crowned cipher of Louis-Philippe stamped on both boards. Once on the throne of France, Louis-Philippe abandoned the arms of the Duke of Orléans in favor of his crowned cipher, a symbol of his role as constitutional monarch. Later in his reign, the crown would even be removed, leaving only the bare cipher.
Later Restoration binding in red long-grain morocco, attributable to Simier, Louis-Philippe's bookbinder (Louis-Philippe had several copies bound...

First critical edition by Petro Burmanno. An allegorical frontispiece by Van der My engraved by Blesvyk.

Contemporary full vellum binding gilt with the arms of the city of Amsterdam. Smooth spine decorated with 5 small stamps with the arms of the city of Amsterdam, roll tooling in place of raised bands. Boards stamped at center with the large arms of the city of Amsterdam, gilt roll border and Amsterdam arms stamps in the corners. Gilding almost entirely faded on the central arms. Traces of ties. Title in black ink. Spine soiled. Some foxing.
Bookplate: Bibliothèque de M. A. R. Couronne.
Esteemed critical edition. The numerous notes and commentaries occupy...