Explication de l'énigme du roman intitulé : Histoire de la conjuration de Louis-Philippe-Joseph d'Orléans - Exemplaire du roi Louis-Philippe

First edition, very rare. "Aucun exemplaire de ce livre imprimé aux frais de la duchesse d'Orléans avant 1814 ne fut distribué de son vivant (Tourneux, Bibl. de l'hist. de Paris pendant la Révolution fr., IV, 21752)

Cf Quérard, VIII, 258. Brunet, II, 1136. Tourneux, 21572.

Some leaves browned or foxed.

Contemporary Bradel bindings in full purple paper boards imitating long-grain morocco, spines slightly faded, decorated with gilt fillets, friezes, and fleurons, gilt crowned monogram at the head of the spines, entirely uncut, headcaps slightly worn, some wear to the corners of volumes 3 and 4, bindings contemporary to the publication.

Some leaves slightly browned.

The work is a reply to Montjoie’s defamatory pamphlet, Histoire de la conjuration d'Orléans (1796), which would later be reprinted and condemned under the reign of Louis-Philippe. It was written by a controversial figure, the politician and conventionnel from Toulouse, Jacques-Marie Rouzet de Folmon (1743-1820).

Kuscinski (Dict. des conventionnels, pp. 540-541) notes that Rouzet accompanied the dowager duchess of Orléans into exile, after securing her release from the Luxembourg prison. They both returned to France in 1814, and "au dire de Mme Cavaignac, il aurait fini par l'épouser, ce qui aurait presque complètement brouillé la mère avec ses enfants. Rouzet a été enterré à Dreux dans les caveaux de la chapelle de la famille d'Orléans."

Provenance: Precious copy bound for Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, with his crowned gilt monogram at the head of the spines and the stamp of the Bibliothèque du roi, Palais Royal, on the title pages. 

The endpaper of the first volume bears the handwritten note: "à l'armoire des médailles, par o[rdre] du Roi", referring to the reserve of precious, or confidential, books of the royal library.

Rare and appealing copy in contemporary boards, entirely uncut, complete with the 3 leaves of errata bound at the end.

The last two volumes are unopened.

The set is preserved in two modern slipcases of half long-grain red morocco, flat spines decorated with gilt fillets.