First edition, quite rare, published anonymously.
Contemporary full brown calf binding. Spine with raised bands richly decorated. Red morocco title-label. Roulette on edges. One lack at head. Upper joint worn with small lacks. 2 corners bumped. Rather fresh copy.
Second edition.
Bound in full roan, spine with five raised bands framed in gilt and decorated in gilt, edges framed in gilt partially faded in places, all edges speckled.
Lower corners bumped, worming visible on the first seven leaves.
A rare edition of this work, which include Dialogue de l'amour et de l'amitié, Critique de l'Opéra, La Peinture, Le Miroir ou la métamorphose d'Orante, La Chambre de justice de l'amour, une Critique de l'opéra Alceste.
Also featured is Charles Perrault's description of the now-lost Labyrinth of Versailles, a creation by the great Le Nôtre.
This remarkable labyrinth boasted thirty-nine fountains, each illustrating one...
The rare first edition, illustrated with 100 in-text figures of medals, each showing obverse and reverse. Of the three parts that were to appear successively, only this one was published, Le Menestrier's death having put an end to this work. The work was not even put on sale; the author only distributed a few copies around him. It is therefore very rare to come across this edition. The 1642 edition entitled Medales illustrées des anciens Empereurs et Impératrices de Rome is the same work to which the publisher Paillot added the Médailles des impératrices from a manuscript he had purchased from the heirs. Jean-Baptiste Le Menestrier, antiquarian, should not be confused with the heraldist...
Three quarto volumes in uniform contemporary full dark red morocco. Spines with raised bands richly decorated in gilt, boards tooled in the Du Seuil manner with double gilt panels and floral cornerpieces around the central compartment, gilt rolls to the board edges, elaborate gilt turn-ins, all edges gilt.
Bindings rubbed, with the corners slightly turned. Small loss of leather at the head of the New Testament volume and a loss at the foot of the lower joint of the first volume. The opening endleaf of volume I is becoming detached. The first six leaves of the New Testament show marginal browning from earlier damp exposure, extending...
Autograph letter dated and signed by Henri II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and father of the Grand Condé, 2 pages on one sheet, 27 lines in black ink.
Minor restorations and dampstain to left margin of the sheet. Discreet annotation by a former owner at head of verso of the letter.
Although he acknowledges the full atrocity of the crime perpetrated by sieur Cardinet against the person of the son of one of the most important magistrates of the city of Bourges, Henri II undertakes to intervene in favor of the assassin: "... l'action qui sest passee a Bourges est très méchante estant un assassinat très inhumain fait en plein jour contre le fils dun des...
Second collective first edition, with continuous pagination, containing for the first time Phèdre, the Discours prononcé à l'Académie françoise à la réception de Messieurs de Corneille et de Bergeret and the Idylle sur la paix.(Brunet, IV, 1077). Work illustrated with 12 figures including 2 frontispieces, most signed by François Chauveau; the frontispiece of the first volume engraved by Le Brun.
Edition shared between Barbin, Denys Thierry and Pierre Trabouillet.
Full midnight blue morocco binding from the late 19th century signed at the foot of the pastedown Thibaron-Joly (Former worker of Trautz, Thibaron partnered with the gilder Joly in 1874). Spine with raised bands decorated...
Rare first edition of one of the most remarkable Dutch emblem books of the seventeenth century, illustrated with an engraved title bearing the device "SPE ET METU" and fifty-one emblems designed by Adriaen van de Venne and engraved by the artist himself together with Willem van de Passe, Johannes Gelle, Christoffel Le Blon the Elder, Albert Poel and Jan Gerritsz Swelinck.
Although the title page bears the imprint of the Amsterdam bookseller Jan Evertsz Cloppenburgh, the volume was printed in Middelburg by Hans van der Hellen, in Johan de Brune's native city. The first edition is thought to have comprised...
Rare first edition decorated with ornamental headpieces, letterheads and culs-de-lampe.
Posterior binding in full red morocco, Jansenist spine, gilt date at the foot, marbled endpapers, frame of gilt roll-tooling on the pastedown endpapers, all edges gilt.
A very beautiful copy of one of the most famous plays in the French repertoire. It was played for the first time on 13 December 1669 at the Hôtel de Bourgogne and received a mixed reception. At the head of this edition is a preface by the playwright responding to his critics:
“Of all the works that I have given to the public, there is none
that attracted more applause and nor...
First editions of both volumes. Rare gathering of these two works in uniform binding. Printed in 2 columns.
Contemporary full mottled brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands, decorated. Brown sheep title label. Defects first volume: Headcap torn away, joints split at tail, 3 corners bumped, dampstain on upper cover. Second volume: Lack at head, upper joint split, tailcap torn away, lower joint split at tail, dampstains on lower cover, 2 corners bumped, strip of leather torn away on lower cover. Lacking marbled endpapers before half-title and at end. Both volumes very fresh overall. Blue stamp on title pages: Institution Pelletin or Felletin. Manuscript ex libris S...
First edition published by Antoine Le Bouc in 1642 and later reissued for sale in 1684, with a cancel slip pasted over the original imprint, bearing the updated address of Antoine Vuarin. This intriguing bibliographical feature suggests that a portion of the original printing remained unsold. Notably, the work was never reprinted. Epistle addressed to Cardinal Richelieu.
Fine allegorical frontispiece by Avice. The illustrations include a genealogical chart of the House of Orléans; two genealogical tables of the House of Luxembourg; four plates demonstrating the Marquis de Gesvre's descent from Charlemagne; a plate detailing the quarterings of the Marquis de Noirmoustier's arms; a...
Complete autograph manuscript of 106 pages entitled: “Mémoire de la construction et agrèz d'une galère ordinaire, avec l'explication des termes, l'usage des manœuvres, et de toutes les parties qui composent le corps de la galère et son armement”. Penned in a neat, unrubricated hand, with occasional marginal notes in another hand.
Contemporary full vellum binding, lightly soiled with minor wear, smooth spine without lettering.
A major and invaluable manuscript chronicling the revival of the French galley fleet, written by the most influential galley shipwright of his time: Jean-Baptiste Chabert.
We have...
First editions of these 8 edicts, details as follows:
1. Edit du roy portant creation des greffiers des Insinuations ecclésiastiques du mois de decembre 1691. (begins at leaf Aij, without title page or half-title)... 8vo (13x20.5cm)
2. Edit du roy portant creation de quatre cent greffiers des domaines de gens de main-morte. Chez Estienne Michallet, 1692. 4to (18x23.5cm).
3. Edit du roy portant creation de notaires royaux & apostoliques. Donné à Versailles au mois de decembre 1691.
4. Edit du roy portant creation d'oeconomes sequestres dans tous les dioceses du royaume. Donné à Versailles au mois de decembre 1691. Chez Guillaume Deprez. 1692. 4to (17.5x25cm).
5. Arrest du...
New edition, after the original published in 1627 under the title: De proxeneta seu De prudentia civili. One frontispiece title.
Copy with the cipher and arms of the Duke and Duchess of Montausier.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Spine decorated with the crowned cipher of the Duke and Duchess of Montausier (repeated 3 times in each compartment). Brown sheep title label. Boards stamped with arms and ciphers in the corners and triple fillet frame. Red edges. Paper browned. Skilful and fine restorations to headcaps, joints and corners. Gilding faded in places. Good copy.
Major figure of the 17th century, Charles de Sainte-Maure was made Duke of Montausier and...
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...
First Elzevirian edition. with title-frontispiece. Epistle to Cardinal Mazarin. Brunet (Manuel du libraire): "The first edition of this esteemed history is that of Paris, Edme Martin, 1661, but it is not sought after, while this one [...]". There exists a counterfeit of this Elzevier edition, it is less well printed and contains only 514pp.
Full red morocco binding 19th century (ca 1860) signed Belz-Niedrée. Spine with raised bands richly decorated with ornate compartments framed by triple fillets, roll-tooled at foot. Covers with interlace decoration in frame and complex geometric figures. Rich inner border. Gilt edges. Very fresh copy, with a slight yellow dampstain to...
First edition. A handsome allegorical frontispiece by François Chauveau engraved by Regnesson, a title vignette by Picart and various very beautiful engraved ornaments: headpieces, tailpieces, initials...
Contemporary full speckled brown sheep binding. Richly decorated spine with raised bands. Brown morocco title label. Head of spine split. Foot with lack. Joint cracked at foot. Corners very bumped.
Works of Latin poetry by Guez de Balzac, the edition prepared by Gilles Ménage. In appendix a selection of letters.
Third edition stated. The first edition was published in 1671. Printer's device on title page, with fleur-de-lys.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Decorated raised band spine. Brown sheep title-label. One hole at foot. Overall rubbed.
The success of this treatise on civility led to its reprinting more than 15 times until 1730. Written for a friend of the author who wanted to send his son to Court, the work particularly emphasizes respect for etiquette and the behavior that a gentleman should display. The treatise encompasses all activities of a gentleman: cleanliness, dancing, relations with servants, superiors, table manners...
Fourth collective edition for the first part and third for the second and third parts, published by Corneille himself. Our copy is adorned with the frontispiece of the first two editions (dated 1645), and the portrait of Corneille by Michel Lasne, dated 1644.
Later bindings in full blue morocco, Jansenist spines with five raised bands, endpapers and pastedowns framed with gilt dentelles of marbled paper, all edges gilt, marbled paper slipcases bordered with morocco, bindings signed by Alix.
Rare and beautiful copy elegantly bound.
Sphere edition, from the Elzevier press. The meaning of the word Maximes is quite removed from the modern sense, it is more closely linked to what governs the interests of Princes, and by which precisely they are bound. The book forms a history of international relations, studying the interests that each nation has over another: France over Flanders, the Holy Empire over France, Denmark over... It is certain that these interests are of a historical, genealogical order... The work by Courtilz de Sandras is an imitation in form of the work by the Duke of Rohan which had appeared previously under the title: Intérêts et maximes des princes et des estats souverains; his book tends to...
First edition, rare, and illustrated with numerous woodcuts in the text including 11 vignettes, one large figure (p.179), 4 coats of arms and 14 miniature portraits.
Copy with 19th-century armorial binding of Baron Pavée de Vendeuvre, with his motto: Ardeo persevero spero.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands decorated. Brown sheep title label. Head restored with tooling renewed, several restorations to joints. Upper joint cracked at head. Numerous pagination errors.
The purpose of this study is to elevate funeral ceremonies to the level of fine arts practice in France. As a first example, Ménestrier describes the funeral rites of...
New collected edition of the works of Théophile. The third part contains the pieces written during his imprisonment until his death. Text in italics.
Contemporary full red morocco binding. Raised spine richly decorated. Red morocco title label. Edges gilt. Owner's initials in the tail compartment: BD (these letters are found handwritten on the title leaf with the number 68). Joint widely cracked along the tail compartment, without damage to the headcap. A hole of one cm in diameter on leaf 83 of the second part, with the loss of one word over three lines. Leaf 115 with three restorations resulting in the loss of two letters. Foxing, sometimes heavy.
These Works are...
New edition. Imprint for this new edition completed on December 1st, 1655.
Very worn contemporary full brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands decorated with grotesques (leafy designs, dots and fleur-de-lys). Brown sheep title label. Headcaps torn with large lacks to first and last compartments. Joints cracked at head and foot with leather lacks. Corners cut and worn bare. Overall very rubbed. First text leaf with browning, some following leaves affected. Foxing to index. Lacks lower right corner of page 1043.
19th-century armorial bookplate of Bellaigne de Bughas.
Substantially revised reissue of the first illustrated edition of the Contes et nouvelles en vers, published ten years earlier, in 1685, by the same Henry Desbordes. Two parts bound in one 12mo volume: (16) 236 pp. (2); (8) 216 pp. (2).
The illustration comprises two frontispieces and 58 half-page vignettes after Romeyn de Hooghe. Yet this apparent continuity with the 1685 edition conceals a thorough reworking. The earlier copperplates were not simply reused: the compositions were re-engraved in reverse. The frontispiece to the first volume thus reproduces the 1685 design in mirror image, now...
Second edition, after the first published in 1675.
Contemporary flexible vellum binding. Smooth spine with handwritten title, date and place at foot. Head crushed. Soiling and stains. Manuscript ownership inscription on title page. Good copy.
Some years earlier, the author had published a letter with the same title: La génération de l'homme par le moyen des oeufs. A response was soon circulated that mocked and ridiculed the author, even accusing him of blasphemy. Houppeville produced his defense in 1676 in the form of a dialogue between three people: one character defending the thesis of generation through eggs, an arbitrator questioning, and a third character...
First edition, rare. This is the second book devoted by the author to this subject. Manuscript bibliographical note on the endpaper, in black ink, by F. Annibal Destouches, 1834.
Half glazed camel calf binding. Spine with false raised bands decorated with fleurons. Long-grain morocco boards with gilt roll border.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding, speckled. Decorated spine with raised bands. Gilt title. Small lack at head. Tailcap partly worn. Upper joint cracked at head and foot over 7 cm. Corners bumped.
First edition.
Contemporary full speckled brown sheep binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Brown sheep title label. Headcap torn away. Loss to upper joint at head. Upper joint split at tail with loss. Library label at head. Corners very much bumped.
First edition of this important work by Pierre Louvet devoted to the history of Provence, published in Aix in 1676 in two volumes. It forms the first part of the three major works that Louvet was to devote to the province, followed by L’Histoire des troubles de Provence in 1679 and the Additions et illustrations sur les deux tomes de l’Histoire des troubles de Provence in 1680, the latter two both published in Aix by Charles David.
The present copy is illustrated with an armorial frontispiece and 27 engraved portraits. The iconographic make-up varies considerably between...
Second edition, after the original of 1644; illustrated with a frontispiece portrait; a headpiece and handsome initial letter on the first page of text, as well as tailpieces. Good impression.
Copy with quartered arms on the 5 compartments, with baron's helmet and mantling. The charges are relatively illegible, though one can distinguish the cross of Lorraine.
Contemporary full speckled sheep binding. Raised band spine decorated with arms. Gilt title. Double fillet frame on boards. Two corners rubbed. Small lacks along joints. A brown stain in margin on several leaves p. 446. Some worming. Good wide-margined copy (except top margin).
The preface mentions the author's age...
First edition.
Full aubergine morocco binding, late 19th century, signed by Chambrolle-Duru. Jansenist spine with raised bands. Rich decorative gilt board-edges. All edges gilt. Spine uniformly faded to dark green. A handsome copy, nevertheless.
Sermons by one who was considered the greatest preacher of his time. The sermons went through many editions and were widely read in the 19th century.
First edition, rare.
Contemporary full mottled brown calf. Spine with raised bands, gilt tooling. Gilt title. Loss at the head of the upper joint. Rubbing to joints, head of spine, and corners.
New edition, after the original published in 1680. Copy entirely ruled.
Contemporary binding in full glazed burgundy morocco. Jansenist spine with raised bands. Gilt title. Interior fillet. Gilt edges.
Inner hinge split and reglued.
Work inseparable from the life of Madame de la Vallière, which she wrote upon recovering from a long illness, during her years of retreat at the Carmelite convent. Mistress of King Louis XIV, and abandoned after 7 years, she withdrew from court to enter the convent. Nothing would make her renounce this path, and she spent the last 36 years of her life in this retreat, where in her later years, she wrote this work with the concern of repairing the...
