Les Oeuvres de Monsieur de Montreuil

The rare illustrated first edition, with a frontispiece portrait of the author engraved by Picart. Collected edition, prepared by the author himself, containing his correspondence and poetry.
19th-century full emerald morocco binding signed Cuzin. Spine with five raised bands richly decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons. Triple gilt fillet framing the covers. Wide gilt dentelle framing the pastedowns. All edges gilt.
Montreuil's work belongs to précieux literature, consisting essentially of fictional letters addressed to ladies and damsels and madrigals. Mathieu de Montreuil assiduously frequented Parisian literary salons, like Benserade, his style is gallant and light, yet without affectation. Though he followed an ecclesiastical career, he was never actually ordained as a priest.