Lettre de Gabrielle D'Estrée a Henri IV. Précédée d'une epitre à M. De Voltaire et de sa réponse

First edition, illustrated with a figure by Eisen engraved by Roubeau, a title vignette by the same engraved by Massard, and a tailpiece, this time engraved by Allianet. Printed on deluxe paper.
Full sheep binding from early 20th century signed Champs. Smooth Jansenist spine, with gilt title and date. Gilt fillet frame on boards. Minor rubbing to headcaps. Handsome copy. Blin de Sainmore, accustomed to literary and historical borrowings, chose in this work a tragic subject, confronting love and power in the relationship between Gabrielle d'Estrées and Henri IV, striving to paint the situation of the kingdom in these troubled times. The verse letter is preceded by an author's preface justifying his work, a verse epistle to Voltaire and a response from the latter. (One will notice the beautiful engraving after Eisen where Death endowed with her scythe and soaring with great black wings, hovers above Gabrielle looking at Henri IV's portrait). Engraved bookplate E. Valton. 1880.