Catalogue des Livres rares et précieux de la Bibliothèque de feu M. le Comte de Mac-Carthy Reagh.

Two folding engraved facsimiles (one in red & black). xxviii, 583 pp.; 2 p.l., 473 pp. Two vols. 8vo, orig. blue wrappers, printed paper labels on spines, uncut. Paris: De Bure, 1815.

De Ricci described the Mac-Carthy-Reagh library as "extravagantly rich in books printed on vellum" and the Duke of Devonshire was inspired to put in a bid of 20,000 pounds for the collection which in fact brought only some 16,000 pounds when it came up for auction in 1817. The mysterious Mac-Carthy-Reagh had been a collector on a grand scale, purchasing Girardot de Préfond's collection en bloc in 1769 and leaving a library which took over 6000 lots to sell at auction, admirably catalogued by the De Bure brothers.

A wonderful set in original state.

Grolier Club, Printed Catalogues of French Book Auctions...1643-1830, 567. De Ricci, p. 80.

Price: $1,750.00

Item ID: 58