Many illus. in the text. 67, [1] p. 8vo, semi-stiff pictorial wrappers. Toronto: [1987].

[bound with]:

—. Artists 1/2“ Videotape Series. Many illus. in the text. 15 pp. 8vo. Toronto: [1987]. More

47 pp. Small 8vo, attractive modern paste-paper wrappers. [Paris]: de l’Imprimerie de Montalant, approbation dated 1747.

One of the major painting sales of the decade. 121 lots. Fine copy.

❧ Lugt 662. 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 collecting and... More

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

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

77 photographic plates & four additional photographic plates of Ickwell Bury bound in at the end. 234 pp. Five parts in one vol. Large 8vo, attractive early half-calf & marbled boards, green morocco lettering piece on spine, spine gilt, t.e.g. [London: Christie, Manson & Woods, 1882].

The illustrated issue of the catalogue of a landmark sale; this was the greatest collection of art and furniture ever assembled in Scotland. The 10th Duke of Hamilton (1767-1852), a connoisseur of the ancien régime and Napoleonic eras, amassed the majority of the collection.

“Up in Scotland, one whale of a collection, indeed the grandest ever put together north of the border, was formed…with a distinctly Francophile flavour. Hamilton claimed the French Dukedom of Chatelherault and enjoyed collecting French art and furniture of the ancien régime as well as Napoleonic material. The aim of the latter was political, to give the impression that he was at the centre of events. He turned Hamilton Palace in Lanarkshire into a gorgeous if gloomy repository where the decorative arts, books and manuscripts were paramount. He married Beckford’s younger daughter, Susan Euphemia, and built a special wing to house the Beckford library. Paintings by Poussin and Rubens hung alongside the Portrait of Napoleon which he had commissioned from David…The sale of the contents of Hamilton Palace by Christie’s between 17 June and 21 July 1882 forms a watershed in the history of British collecting. Foreigners flocked to the sale and it signalled the end of the era of British domination of the art market.”–Stourton and Sebag-Montefiore, The British as Art Collectors, p. 191. Many of the finest pieces in the sale were bought by American collectors, who were relatively new to the London art market. The sale achieved a total of 397,000 pounds. More

3 p.l., [41]-120 pp. (lacking pp. 1-40). 8vo, 19th-century blue pebbled cloth-backed marbled boards (spine a little worn), spine gilt. [Rotterdam: Burgvliet & Bothal, 1788].

A very rare sale catalogue, annotated in a contemporary hand with buyers’ names, that provides valuable insight into the growing French interest for 17th and 18th century Dutch art and the primary dealers and runners who acted as agents for the voracious collectors of France. The sections of books (303 lots) and coins were not bound in this copy, but the art portion of 863 lots is complete.

The contemporary annotations in this copy reveal the names of Dutch dealers and collectors of the day, such as van Dongen, Cremer, Heybroek (likely the son of the consigner), van der Laan, van der Pals, Robbens, Burgvliet, Bothal, etc. Another name which frequently appears is that of Jan (or Jean) Yver (1747-1814), an important art dealer in Amsterdam. With his father, Pierre (or Pieter), who died in 1787, they were two of the earliest Dutch dealers to develop an international clientele, which included Louis XVI, Joshua Reynolds, and Stanislaw Poniatowski, King of Poland, as well as many other members of the European upper class. This sale also came at a time when, thanks to the efforts of the famous dealers Jean Baptiste Pierre Lebrun and Edmé Gersaint before him, the French had developed an almost extreme passion for Northern painting. French dealers, several of whom are named here, exploited this opportunity by purchasing directly at Dutch auctions and then importing them to France. More

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

106 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: Le Brun, 1785.

The uncommon sale catalogue of the collection of a famous patron of the arts. Bailli de Breteuil (1725?-85), an influential diplomat who was ambassador to Malta, collected paintings, sculptures, curiosities, and objets d’art. He lived in Rome for about two decades and he owned a magnificent Roman villa decorated by Lavallée-Poussin. Upon returning to Paris in 1787, he frequented Grimod de La Reynière’s salon. Rumors abounded that Bailli was engaged in an affair with Madame Grimod.

The present catalogue fully describes 102 paintings, 42 drawings, 18 prints, and 240 lots of sculpture, precious minerals, porcelains, ceramics, snuffboxes, antiquities, and furniture. Bailli owned works by Del Piombo, Fragonard (No. 49 “The Stolen Kiss” resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art), Velazquez, Dürer, Bourdon, Le Nain, Poussin, etc. Of particular note in this catalogue is a section devoted to table centerpieces (surtout de table), models of ancient monuments including the temples of Minerva, Mercury, two arcs de triomphe, four obelisks, 12 sphinxes, and finally 75 knives made from various materials. All are thoroughly described. More

63 pp. 8vo, orig. marbled wrappers bound in later calf-backed marbled boards (spine rubbed), spine gilt. Paris: Lebrun, 1784.

[bound with]:

(—). Supplément au Catalogue et Feuille de distribution de Tableaux des Ecoles de Flandres, de Hollande, et de France; Dessins, Estampes, Gouaches, Miniatures, Marbres, Bronzes, Porcelaines, & autres Objets de curiosité. Par J.B.P. Le Brun. La Vente s’en fera le Mercredi 14 Avril 1784, & jours suivans… 12 pp. 8vo. Paris: Lebrun, 1784. More

Added engraved title-page (by J.M. Moreau le jeune). viii, 79 pp. 8vo, polished green vellum over boards. Paris: Basan & Chariot, 1775.

[bound with]:

(—). Supplément au Catalogue des Estampes de la succession de feu M. Mariette, dont la vente a commencé le premier Février dernier, & laquelle continuera en Mai prochain, après la vente de Bibliothèque, qui finira le treize [May 1775]. 23 pp. 8vo. [Paris: 1775]. More

1 p.l., xxiv, 74 pp. 8vo, self-wrappers, stitched as issued (stitching loose), leaves uncut. Paris: Regnault-Lalande, 1811.

The rare catalogue of this joint sale of the collections of Ozanne (1728-1811) and Coïny (1761-1809), which took place 2-11 December 1811. The former, a distinguished marine artist and engineer, collaborated with Duhamel du Monceau on several illustrated works and taught naval architecture and navigation to the sons of the royal family. Le Tellier de Courtanvaux used one of Ozanne’s ships as a platform to test Pierre Le Roy’s marine chronometer.

A student of Suvée and J.P. Lebas, Coïny exhibited at the Salon from 1802 to 1806 and specialized in engravings of the saints and mythological or historical subjects. He also executed well-known vignettes for the works of La Fontaine, Léonard, and Racine. The pieces from his collection are noted with a “†”. More