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

46 pp. Large 4to (270 x 210 mm.), orig. printed wrappers, staple-bound. [Toronto: 1979].

A very rare and early catalogue published by Art Metropole; unrecorded on WorldCat. On the inside of the upper wrapper, Art Metropole’s archivist Tim Guest lays out a definition of the artist’s book: “Since the early 1960‘ [sic] artists have been producing bookworks as a completely autonomous artform. Different in that they exist outside the traditions of either the ‘literary text’ or the ‘illustrated book’, they are instead books as works of art in themselves. They belong to that movement in art history which seeks to de-emphasize form and aesthetics... More

14 black & white illus. 36 unnumbered pages. Irregularly shaped small 4to (200 x 200 mm.), die-cut corners (spine faintly rubbed), staple-bound. [Chicago]: The University of Chicago Library, 1986.

An important exhibition catalogue as well as reference work on artists’ books. This catalogue was designed by the book artist Buzz Spector (b. 1948), and his pencil notes for the mock-up have been reproduced in this final version. Jeffrey Abt, the organizer of the exhibition, writes in an insightful essay: “The contemporary artist’s book…represents an evolution of the book’s use from a vehicle for text and its illustration to an artistically integrated, sometimes sculptural object. Though superficially... More

Finely engraved frontis. (mounted on a stub at an early date). xvi, ix-xii, 306, lv pp. Small 8vo (165 x 100 mm.), cont. mottled sheep, green morocco lettering-pieces on spine, spine gilt. Paris: P. Prault & J. Barrois, 1747.

The uncommon catalogue of one of Gersaint’s great auctions, with his customary erudite descriptions. The Vicomte de Fonspertuis (1669-1747), “despite a Jansenist education, entered whole-heartedly into the life of the royal court and won the favour of Philippe II, Duc d’Orléans. He developed his love of art through his maternal uncle, Du Vivier, who bequeathed him his remarkable collection, rich in curiosities, East Asian porcelain and... 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 Grimm wrote... 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. 7. 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

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

96 pp. 8vo (190 x 128 mm.), cont. red sheep maroquiné, gilt coat-of-arms of Louis XVIII & ornate gilt borders on covers, flat spine gilt, a.e.g. Paris: Constantin, et al.; Amsterdam: Coclers; Antwerp: Beckmans; Brussels: Marneef; Mannheim: Artaria; London: Woodburn, 1816.

A splendid copy of this important and scarce auction catalogue, which describes the personal collection and stock of paintings of Constantin (1755-1816). With all prices and nearly all buyers in a contemporary hand, this catalogue is finely bound with the coat-of-arms of Louis XVIII and bears the bookplate of the Duchesse de Berry’s unparalleled Bibliothèque de Rosny. This was the first of... 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

Folding engraved frontis. & five engraved plates. 2 p.l., 2, 32 pp., [2], 33-103. 8vo, cont. half-sheep & marbled boards (rejointed & extremities rubbed), spine gilt. Edinburgh: Printed by J. Hutchison, [1833].

A famous sale with fatal results; it is clear that this copy survived the collapse of the floor on which the sale was held. John Clerk, Lord Eldin (1757–1832), was one of the leading Scottish lawyers of his time; “he acquired so extensive a practice that, it is said, at one period of his career he had nearly half the business of the court in his hands. As a pleader he was remarkable, both for... More

xii, 292 pp. Small 8vo, later paste paper boards (spine slightly rubbed), label on spine. Paris: Prault, 1772.

The uncommon catalogue of the fourth and final sale of Huquier’s collection, which took place after his death. Huquier (1695-1772), a leading engraver and publisher of his time, not only earned commissions from Watteau, Gillot, and Meissonnier, but also executed numerous works in the realms of interior decoration and architecture for Jacques de la Joue and Charles Parrocel. During his illustrious career, he produced 970 works, including 362 designs for Watteau, which earned him “a funeral conducted with much pomp and attended by an... More