Choix de chansons mises en musique. Dédiées à Madame la Dauphine

First edition of one of the most beautiful books of the 18^th 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.

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.
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 intricate gilt-tooling, roll-tooling 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.