One finely engraved head-piece. 4 p.l., LXXX pp. 8vo, attractive early 19th-century calf-backed marbled boards, flat spine gilt, orange & green morocco lettering pieces on spines. [Venice, ca. 1776].

[bound with]:

(PINELLI, Maffeo). Catalogo di Quadri raccolti dal fu Signor Maffeo Pinelli, ed ora posti in vendita in Venezia 1785. viii, 125 pp., one blank leaf. 8vo. [Venice: July 1785]. More about Catalogo dei Quadri dei Disegni, e dei Libri che trattano dell’Arte del Disegno della Galleria...

70 pp. 8vo (190 x 125 mm.), late 19th-century brown morocco-backed marbled boards, signed “A. Knecht” (tail of spine a trifle rubbed), title on spine. Paris: Lebrun, 1784.

The very rare auction catalogue, fully priced in a contemporary hand, detailing the impressive and eclectic collection belonging to Saint Julien (1715-?95), man of letters and author of several books on the arts. This is the first of three sales attributed by various sources to Saint Julien (see also Lugt 3830 & 4300). Patrick Michel refers to him as one of the leading collectors of paintings in the 1770s, albeit with taste (goût canaille) characteristic of... More about Catalogue d’une belle Collection de Tableaux des Ecoles d’Italie, de Flandres, de Hollande et...

71 pp. 8vo, 19th-cent. paste-paper boards (corners a little worn), blue morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: Paillet & Hugues, 1786.

A rare sale catalogue, with most prices and buyers’ names written in a contemporary hand. Aubert (1736-85), jeweler to the Crown and a favorite of Marie Antoinette, as well as the Comtesse du Barry before, blended his craft with occasional forays into art dealing; however, his avid collecting took precedence. In the preface, Paillet (1743-1814), the expert for this sale, praises Aubert’s taste for Dutch and French pictures along with his impressive natural history cabinet.

This catalogue describes 293 lots: 79 lots of paintings (by Panini, J. Breughel, Rubens, van Dyck, Jordaens, Teniers, Wouwerman, Rembrandt, Metsu, Berghem, Netscher, van Ostade, A. Brouwer, P. Potter, Bourdon, Largillière, F. Boucher, Chardin, Greuze, Fragonard, Anne Valayer-Coster, etc.); 28 lots of drawings (by Bouchardon, Watteau, Lagrenée, etc.); 26 enamel miniatures; 38 lots of prints; 22 lots of sculptures; 38 lots from Aubert’s natural history cabinet; and 46 miscellaneous lots including vases with artificial flowers, bird-cages, rubies, cases of butterflies, etc. More about Catalogue des Tableaux précieux, Dessins, Gouaches, Estampes, Portraits en émail, par Petitot...

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. 7. More about Catalogue d’une grande quantité de Desseins & Estampes des plus grands Maîtres des Trois...

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 about Catalogue d’une Collection de Dessins et Estampes, Livres d’arts, Planches gravées, quelques...

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 and with buyers’ names, of a noteworthy collection devoted primarily to Italian art and sculpture. Bourlat de Montredon (d. 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... More about Catalogue d’une belle Collection de Tableaux, Dessins, Estampes, Sculptures en Terre cuite...

viii, 185 pp. Small 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Muzier, 1772.

An uncommon catalogue describing the famed collection of the Crozat dynasty of collectors. Louis Antoine (1700-70), a general and sophisticated collector in his own right, was the son of Antoine Crozat (1655-1738), and the nephew of Pierre Crozat (1665-1740), both wealthy merchants — though Pierre was ironically known as “Crozat le Pauvre,” compared to his brother who was reputed to be the wealthiest man in Paris. Together, they patronized Watteau and other Rococo artists, and amassed one of the most... More about Catalogue des Estampes, Vases de Poterie étrusques, figures, Bas-reliefs & Bustes de bronze,...

Engraved frontis. xii, 92, [4] pp. of ads. Small 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Vente, 1768.

The catalogue of artworks in the collection of Gaignat (1697-1768), secretary of the Cabinet du Roi under Louis XV and famed book and art collector. Blessed with a massive fortune and little responsibility, he formed both an art collection and library considered amongst the grandest of the 18th century.

This catalogue’s preface, written by the expert Pierre Rémy, begins with the usual eulogy of the deceased and his superb taste, but suddenly Rémy shifts to a passionate defense of... More about Catalogue raisonné des Tableaux, Groupes et Figures de Bronze, qui composent le Cabinet de feu...

1 p.l., ii, 119 pp. 8vo, cont. semi-stiff paper wrappers (spine a little split), uncut. Ghent: F. Verhulst, [1843].

The very rare sale catalogue of the impressive coin, shell, and mineral collections formed by d’Hane de Steenhuyse (1757-1826), Dutch nobleman and politician in Ghent. His family lived in the luxurious Hotel d’Hane-Steenhuyse, which still stands, and hosted figures such as Talleyrand, Tsar Alexander I, Louis XVIII, Chateaubriand, as well as John Quincy Adams.

This catalogue describes nearly 3500 lots. It includes a wide-ranging array of coins from ancient Greece and Rome, countries across Europe, Turkey, Morocco, India, Guadeloupe, the United... More about Catalogue d’une très-belle, riche et nombreuse collection de Médailles romaines, modernes de...

Finely engraved frontis. xx, 316 pp. Small 8vo, cont. mottled calf (expertly rebacked), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Vente, 1767.

[bound with as usual]:

(—). Catalogue raisonné de Porcelaines, tant anciennes, premiere forte, qu’ancien Japon & la Chine: d’Effets précieux d’anciens Lacqs, riches Meubles de Boule, & Bijoux, faisant partie du Cabinet de feu… Par C.F, Julliot, Marchand… 80 pp., one leaf of approbation. [Paris: Didot, 1767]. More about Catalogue raisonné des Tableaux, Desseins & Estampes, et autres Effets curieux, après le...

48 pp. 8vo (180 x 130 mm.), attractive antique marbled boards. Paris: Delaville & Paillet, 1781.

The auction catalogue of 114 paintings belonging to the Duc de la Vallière (1708-80), one of the greatest bibliophiles of the 18th century. This copy is fully priced, with most buyers’ names added in a contemporary hand. In addition to his fervent book collecting, La Vallière amassed an impressive collection of Italian and Northern school paintings, described here.

The present catalogue details 114 lots of paintings and a lot of two porcelain candle-stands. The paintings include the work of Raphael, Veronese, Tintoretto, Jordaens, Teniers, Rembrandt, Dou, Wouwerman, G.... More about Catalogue des Tableaux précieux, des plus grands Maîtres des Ecoles Flamande & Hollandoise;...

36 pp. 8vo, late 19th-century green morocco-backed marbled boards (extremities a little worn), title on spine. Paris: Joullain, 1775.

A rare sale catalogue describing an impressive group of paintings. Lassay (1652-1738), known as the “Don Juan du Grand Siècle” due to his dissipated personal life, was a man of letters and supporter of the libertines. His son, Léon de Madaillan, the comte de Lassay (1683-1750), commissioned the construction of the Hôtel de Lassay, now the residence of the president of the Assemblée nationale. Charlotte Guichard has written that unscrupulous experts continued to employ the Lassay family name to promote sales decades after... More about Catalogue d’une belle Collection de Tableaux, et Bustes en marbre. Dont la majeure partie...