xxxvi, 366 pp., one leaf (but lacking, as is often the case, the 12-page schedule of sale & the 80-page author index). 8vo, cont. speckled calf (two corners a bit worn, joints a little cracked but strong), flat spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Gogué & Née de la Rochelle, 1785.

The rare sale catalogue of the great library of books and early manuscripts, many illuminated, founded by Henri François d’Aguesseau (1668-1751), Chancellor of France, a man of great learning. According to the preface of the catalogue he had acquired the collection of the poet Florent Chrestien... More

26 pp. 8vo (208 x 136 mm.), orig. stitching with traces of scotch tape, leaves uncut. Paris: Félix & Regnault-Delalande, 1819.

A scarce sale catalogue of drawings and prints; we locate only one copy in North America. Alibert, a print dealer, died in 1803, and his shop’s stock was dissolved by Regnault-Delalande the same year (Lugt 6612); the Getty Provenance Index entry suggests that this auction consisted of property belonging to an heir of Alibert.

144 lots total, including drawings (by Boissieu, Lantara, M. S. Mérian, Palmieri, etc.), and a substantial group of Old Master and contemporary prints.

Fine copy... More

24 pp. 8vo (202 x 127 mm.), disbound, orig. stitching strengthened with scotch tape. Paris: Delaroche & Gendron, 1814.

A scarce catalogue with nearly all prices provided in contemporary manuscript. 81 lots of paintings in total, including the works of Cuyp, van Dyck, Giordano, I. van Ostade, Potter, Raphael, Rubens, D. Teniers, J. Weenix, Wouwerman, etc.

Good copy, with a half-title fashioned in manuscript. The copy at the Frick has only a few prices recorded. Stamp of the Bibliothèque Heim on manuscript half-title.

❧ Lugt 8585. More

x, 69 pp. Small 8vo (165 x 105 mm.), late 19th-century brown morocco-backed marbled boards (head of spine chipped), spine gilt. Paris: Didot l’aîné, 1766.

The uncommon auction catalogue, fully priced and with many buyers’ names written throughout in a contemporary hand, of the wide-ranging collection (or stock?) of the famed portraitist, peintre du roi, and close friend of Chardin. According to Patrick Michel, Aved (1702-66) was one of the most well-known examples of an artist with a sideline as a dealer; the Académie de Saint-Luc accused him of “the illegal practice of selling and disloyal competition.” The Baron von... More

47 pp. Small 8vo (169 x 102 mm.), modern marbled boards, gilt title on spine. [Paris: 1747].

A scarce and early auction catalogue dispersing a substantial collection of paintings belonging to a “Baron de Banckheim,” possibly a fictitious provenance. We also do not know the expert in charge of this sale, but we do see that they borrowed heavily from the celebrated catalogues of the leading art dealer of the time, Edme François Gersaint (1694-1750). The foremost scholar on Gersaint, Guillaume Glorieux, writes that a number of catalogues of this period plagiarized the authoritative biographies of artists composed by Gersaint.

... More

Woodcut vignette on title. 24 pp. 8vo (200 x 125 mm.), late 19th-century stiff marbled boards (spine a little rubbed), brown morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: C. Ballard, 1758.

A rare early sale catalogue of drawings and prints compiled by Basan (1723-97), one of the leading experts of the mid-18th century. Divided by vacation, the catalogue concisely describes 199 group lots, some quite large. Each section concludes with a portefeuille.

Very good copy. Engraved bookplate of G[eorges] P[annier] (1853-1944), the Parisian art dealer and collector, and stamp of the Bibliothèque Heim on verso of title. Contemporary manuscript correction on p.... More

96 pp. Small 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine.Paris: Bénard, 1816.

The rare sale catalogue of this impressive varied auction. Antoine François Piéri Bénard (fl. 1810-40), prominent art dealer and for a time marchand de la Bibliothèque du Roi, advised Eugène Dutuit on his art collecting. In the present catalogue, he thoroughly describes 504 lots. Pages 60-77, numbered separately, contain meticulously detailed and considerable group lots. These lots consist of the works of van Dyck, Hollar, Hondius, de Jode, Pontius (almost three full pages), and Vorsterman. Lots 418-75 details a selection... More

1 p.l., xiii, [1], 40 pp. 8vo (200 x 128 mm.), cont. blue paper wrappers, stitched as issued & strengthened with clear tape. Paris: Delaplace-Gérardin & Regnault-Delalande, 1822.

The very scarce sale catalogue detailing the sizable and choice collection of a celebrated engraver. Bervic (1756-1822), best known for his skillful works after Callet, J. B. Regnault, Guido Reni, and Raphael, studied under Le Prince, as well as Wille, who considered him one of his most promising students. A clerical error is the reason for being given the name Balvay, instead of, correctly, Bervic. “Bervic was greatly respected and honoured in... More

24 pp. 8vo (198 x 125 mm.), modern aubergine cloth, title on upper cover. Paris: Félix & Regnault-Delalande, 1819.

A very scarce auction catalogue marking the dissolution of Pierre Blaizot’s inventory; WorldCat records no copy in North America. Despite the lengthy interval between his death and this sale, we can identify the seller as Pierre Blaizot (1740-1808) due to the offerings in the present catalogue — prints, maps, and luxury paper — that match the description of his business on the BnF Data site. Blaizot’s page on the site notes that he was orphaned at age 9, but managed to... More

iv, 228 pp. Small 8vo, cont. mottled calf (expertly rebacked), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris; London; Amsterdam; Brussels: 1776.

The uncommon sale catalogue of Blondel de Gagny (1695-1776), one of the greatest art collectors of the 18th century. Blondel served as France’s general treasurer and later supervised the decoration of Louis XVI’s countless parties and feasts. He was a veritable tastemaker, who revived styles and schools that had been underappreciated for decades simply by displaying them in his house which was open to visitors. The sales of his estate are momentous events in the history of... More

99 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: Joullain, 1778.

The uncommon sale catalogue, fully priced throughout, of a noteworthy collection, devoted primarily to Italian art and sculpture. Bourlat de Montredon (?-1777), was an influential amateur and collector who resided in Constantinople for forty years.

The catalogue thoroughly describes 695 lots, many of which are composed of numerous items. Lots 579-671 are Bourlat de Montredon’s impressive group of books of prints, mostly focused on the architecture and decorative arts of Italy, including a number of works by Piranesi. The descriptions offer occasional... More

2 p.l., viii, 188 pp. (of 192, lacking, as it sometimes the case, the four-page Supplement). 8vo, cont. sheep-backed blue boards (spine a little worn & rubbed). Paris: G. Martin, 1754.

The sale catalogue of the famous collection formed by Claude Gros de Boze (1680-1753), the renowned academician and savant. It was an excellent library, notable for its block books and incunabula. The Gutenberg Bible is lot 13.

Following the publication of the inventory catalogue in 1753, two collectors — Boutin and Cotte — purchased the whole library, retaining the books which they desired for their own collections and selling... More