2 p.l., viii, 236 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf, double gilt fillet round sides, flat spine gilt, uncut. Paris: veuve Tilliard et Fils, 1805.

The rare sale catalogue of the library, rich in oriental books and manuscripts, of Anquetil-Duperron (1731-1805), French orientalist and brother of the historian Pierre Anquetil. Abraham Hyacinthe had a fascinating early life: while unsuccessfully studying for the priesthood in Paris and Utrecht, he developed a passion for Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and other languages of the East. He travelled to India as a private soldier in 1754 in order to search for the works of Zoroaster. Granted... More

48 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Bénard, 1807.

The rare sale catalogue of a varied print and drawings collection. It describes 341 lots alphabetically by artist, with a number of large group lots, and includes works by Bartolozzi, Callot, Delattre, Hollar, van Ostade, and Watelet, as well as a number of English artists. It concludes with a handful of dictionaries, catalogues raisonnés, and sale catalogues.

Nice copy. We locate only one copy in North America.

❧ Lugt 7174. More

xvi, 336 pp. 8vo, orig. wrappers, uncut. Paris: Bleuet fils, 1796.

The very rare first issue of the sale catalogue of the library of “Citoyen” Blondel. This was a notable library of 2781 lots (including thirty lots of paintings and prints) and was particularly rich in botany and other areas of natural history and belles-lettres. Most of the books are 18th century.

The sale was postponed for reasons unknown and the catalogue was reissued in the following year with “1797 “ in the imprint.

Very fine copy in original state.

❧ Grolier Club, Printed Catalogues of French Book Auctions...1643-1830, 372... More

[iii]- xvi, 523 pp. 12mo, cont. mottled sheep (well-rebacked with the orig. spine laid-down), on lower cover the gilt coat-of-arms of the Comtesse d’Ons-en-Bray, née Princesse de Gallifat-Martigues, wife of Louis-Léon Pajot, Comte d’Ons-en-Bray (see OHDR 150 & Rietstap), surmounted by a princely coronet, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: J. Boudot & J. Guerin, 1735.

An uncommon auction catalogue, priced throughout in a contemporary hand. The library was a large one (6496 lots) and contained some outstanding 16th- and 17th-century rarities as well as strong collections in history, belles-lettres, numismatics, music, and the sciences (especially mineralogy).

Very... More

Engraved allegorical frontis (slightly cropped at outer margin). 3 p.l. (incl. frontis.), 199 pp. 8vo, attractive blue morocco-backed boards, spine lettered in gilt. London: Printed by J. Tonson & J. Watts, 1725/26.

The English issue of the sale catalogue of the library of John Bridges (1666-1724), historian of Northamptonshire. Bridges left his fine library to his two brothers, who prepared an inventory catalogue in 1725 for sale. Their efforts were apparently fruitless as the books were sent to auction before the year was out.

There are two issues of the present auction catalogue: the English issue with the title in... More

xxiii, [1], 423 pp. 8vo, fine cont. polished calf (two corners a trifle worn), triple gilt fillet round sides, flat spine gilt, flat spine gilt “á la grotesque,” turn-ins gilt, a.e.g. Paris: De Bure père et fils, 1808.

The first issue of the auction catalogue of Caillard’s library; our copy has been neatly priced throughout in a contemporary hand. The present catalogue (2650 lots and limited to 1200 copies) was published for the auction which was eventually held in 1810 (the second issue has 1810 on the title). This was an important library containing notable incunabula, classical texts, scientific and... More

4 p.l., xviii, 452 pp. 8vo, cont. half-sheep & speckled boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Brussels: J. Ermens, 1781.

The extremely rare auction catalogue of the books, prints, and drawings in the collection of Charles Alexandre, Duke of Lorraine (1712-80), and governor of The Netherlands. This was one of the three greatest libraries and art collections sold in Belgium during the late 18th century. The sale contains the largest surviving group of copper plates of Rubens’ works.

Charles Alexandre married the sister of Maria Theresa in 1744 and, following a very successful military career, retired in... More

Woodcut arms on title. xvi, 352 pp. 8vo, attractive antique half-calf & boards. Paris: Nyon, 1782.

This scarce sale catalogue describes the notable collection of voyages formed by Courtanvaux; it was one of the largest collections on the subject ever formed and practically amounts to a bibliography of the subject. The sections on natural history and the sciences are also very rich.

Courtanvaux (1718-81), a member of the Académie des Sciences, performed research in chemistry, geography, natural history, physics, and mechanics. A man of considerable wealth, he sponsored the voyage made in 1767 by Pingré and Messier during which Pierre... More

xvi, 420 pp. 8vo, cont. diced russia, double gilt fillet round sides, spine gilt, orig. red morocco lettering piece on spine. [London: 1783].

A very handsome copy. This was a grand library of 8360 lots, notable for its Italian books, which De Ricci considered “the finest library of old Italian books yet seen in England; his sale (7 April 1783) also contained a number of fine French chivalry-romances” (p. 56). Crofts (1722-81), also had much fine early music, Spanish novels, Scandinavica, Polonica, and Eastern travel.

Fine crisp copy.

❧ Gustave Brunet, Dictionnaire de Bibliologie Catholique, col. 562. Taylor, Book Catalogues... More

4 p.l., 183 pp. 8vo, attractive antique speckled calf-backed marbled boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Barrois l’aîné, et Fils and Alexandre, 1803.

The rare sale catalogue of the library of Charles Desprez de Boissy (1730?-87), a leading French theater critic of the time. A lawyer to the Paris parlement, he was a member of many scientific and literary societies in France and Italy and the author of highly esteemed works on the theater.

“La collection de ce amateur érudit contenait d’importants manuscrits et de nombreux autographes. On y remarquait surtout douze volumes in-folio de plans... More

Engraved frontis. port. of the collector & an engraved vignette on title. 6 p.l. (incl. port.), xxii, 450, 107*, [1] pp., [27] leaves of index. 8vo, cont. mottled calf (corners a bit worn), spine richly gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: G. Martin, 1725.

One of the finest French 18th-century collections; the sale catalogue of the library of Du Fay (1662-1723), is considered to be the best of those compiled by Gabriel Martin, who made Paris the international center for the sale of rare books by auction. Du Fay, after losing his leg in the bombardment of Brussels... More

Sumptuously illustrated throughout with tipped-in plates (many in superb color) & text illus. 6 vols. including the Supplement to Part 2. Large 4to, orig. cloth (several spines faded). Paris: [1972-74].

The magnificently produced auction catalogue of one of the greatest collections of the last century of fine bindings, manuscripts, and illustrated books from the 14th century to the present day. Esmerian collected only the finest possible examples.

The supplement — “Douze Tableaux Synoptiques sur la Reliure au XVIIe Siècle” — contains the first analysis of French 17th century pointillé bindings by workshop.

Very good set.

❧ Breslauer, The Uses of... More