190 résultats
1827117452London UK: Whittaker Treacher Arnot / Hunt and Clarke 1827. Leather Bound. Near Fine. 24mo 5 - 5.75'' tall. Leather Bound. Condition: Near Fine. Whittaker Treacher Arnot / Hunt and Clarke London UK 1827. Volumes I to XXIV 1827 to1831. Dark red leather spines and board tips with marbled paper Schrottel boards. Portraits of each diarist. Nice Firm Clean copies ! Light general wear. Bindings hinges text pages near fine. No foxing except for near portraits. Size: 24mo 5 - 5.75'' tall. Brilliant entertaining autobiographies by: I. Colley Cibber comedian. II. Hume William Lilly astronomy Voltaire. III IV. Jean-François Marmontel history opera poetry novels. V. Robert Drury sailor Madagascar captive. VI. George Whitefield Methodist Voyage from London to Savannah. James Ferguson astronomer instrument and globe maker. VII. Mary Robinson actress. Charlotte Charke aka Cibber Charlotte Secheverell Charles Brown actress playwright novelist and noted transvestite. VIII. Lord Herbert of Cherbury Prince Eugene of Savoy. IX X. Augustus Von Kotzebue dramatist writer Siberian exile. XI. Captain John Creichton Scottish soldier. William Gifford critic editor poet satirist. Thomas Ellwood religious writer. XII. Lewis Ludvig Holberg writer essayist philosopher historian and playwright. XIII. James Hardy Vaux swindler thief transported to Australia thrice. XIV XV. Edward Gibbon historian member of Parliament. XVI XVII. Benvenuto Cellini artist. XVIII. James Lackington bookseller. XIX. Theobald Wolfe Tone Irish revolutionary United Irishmen father of Irish republicanism leader of 1798 Irish Rebellion. XX. Bubb Dodington English politician and nobleman. XXI XXII. Margravine of Bareith Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina sister of Frederick the Great. XXIII XXIV. Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni comic writer Italian playwright and librettist. Biography History::Britain RBR15 RBR15 Whittaker, Treacher, Arnot / Hunt and Clarke hardcover
18821006231882. Paris Emile Perrin 1882-1890. 4 vols. xix 494; 1 xvii 438; xv 609; 1 xxii ii 391 pp. Approximately 12500 entries. First edition. 3/4 dark brown morocco marbled boards. Original wrappers bound-in. Top edges gilt. 3 frontispieces. Edition limited to 550 copies this one not numbered. Volume one with a dedication from Bengesco to Léon Brélard on the titlepage. Volume 3 has a small business card from Bengesco inserted with a note on it to a friend unnamed to whom he sends this volume of his work. Binding ticket: "Reliure Franz Osterman 80 Bd Malesherbes Paris". A very nice copy of this important bibliography. Contains: Tome 1: Theatre. Poemes. Grands ouvrages historiques. Dictionnaire philosophique et questions sur l'Encyclopedie. Romans. Tome 2: Melanges. Ouvrages edite par Voltaire. Ouvrages annote par Voltaire. Tome 3: Correspondance. Cent lettres de Voltaire qui ne figurent dans aucune edition de ses oeuvres et suivi du repertoire chronologique de sa correspondance de 1711 a 1778 avec l'indication des principales sources de chaque lettre. Tome 4: Oeuvres completes de Voltaire. Principaux extraits de Voltaire. Ouvrages faussement attribue a Voltaire. First edition of this bibliography of Voltaire whose real name was François-Marie Arouet 1694-1778. Voltaire was a prolific French Englightenment writer who used almost every literary form for his work authoring plays poetry novels essays historical and scientific works more than 20000 letters and more than 2000 books and pamphlets. From early on Voltaire had trouble with the authorities for his energetic attacks on the government and the Catholic Church. This would lead to numerous imprisonments and exiles. hardcover
187647251Paris: Chez Firmin-Didot et Cie Libraires 1876. 13 vols. Large 8vo 26x19 cm. Contemporary half morocco spines gilt in compartments with ribbons; covers cloth blindstamped lines around the borders; decorated endpapers; marbled edges. Corners sl. bumped and partly damaged. - Tome I: Vie de Voltaire Théâtre. iv848 pp. with frontisp.portrait and 12 other engraved plates. - Tome II: Théâtre La Henriade La Pucelle Poésies.iv814ii pp. With frontisp. portrait and 13 engraved plates. - VolTome III: Essai sur les moeurs Annales de l'Empire. iv816 pp. With frontisp. portrait. iv516 pp. misbound 8 leaves missing: N.B.: Quire 6 p.81-96 bound twice and quire 9 p.129-144 MISSING. - Tome IV: Siècle de Louis XIV Précis du siècle de Louis XV Histoire de Charles XII Histoire de Russie Histoire du parlement Fragments historiques sur l'Inde. iv840 pp. With frontispiece and 3 other portraits. - Tome V: Mélanges historiques Politique et legislation Physique. iv818 pp. and at the end 4 engraved plates with mathematical figures. - Tome VI: Philosophie Dialogues. iv784 pp. tear upper margin p.769-770 repaired. - Tome VII: Dictionnaire philosophique 1. 782 pp. - Tome 8: Dictionnaire philosophique 2; Romans Facéties. iv716 pp. With 13 engraved plates. - Tome IX: Melanges littéraires Commentaires sur Corneille. iv662 pp. - Tome X: Correspondence avec le roi de Prusse 'l'Impératrice de Russie et d'Alembert. iv762 pp. With frontispiece portrait of Catherine 2 and 1 portrait of Dalembert. - Tome XI: Correspondance général tome premier. iv900 pp. With plate: facsimile of a letter. - Tome XII: Correspondance générale tome deuxième. iv1032 pp. including 4 pp. "Table des personnages auxquels sont adressées les lettres". small tear in margin of 3 leaves repaired. - Tome XIII: Correspondance générale tome troisième et Table générale et analytique des matières: p. 417558 printed in 3 columns. iv558 pp. - Complete set printed in 2 columns. Titles with engraved title-vignette and with together 52 steelengraved plates. Lightbrown spots in a few plates and in places in the text for a few leaves more serious spots. Paper age-toned. - 8 leaves see Tome III missing but on the whole a good hard to find set. Interesting edition guided by the edition of M. Beuchot. With the notes of Voltaire notes of the new editor and the annotations by 'Les editeurs de Kehl K. M. Clogenson Ml. and M. Renouard Ren. Chez Firmin-Didot et Cie, Libraires hardcover
181714013121Paris: Th. Desoer 1817. Full grained dark maroon leather all edges gilt bottom cover edges gilt tooled. Owner's name stamp on title and one text page of each volume; moderate to heavy foxing cover edges lightly rubbed but some somewhat more heavily rubbed spots and dry spine edges header of volume 13 chipped else nice clean tight bright set: VG. 8vo. Frontispiece of Voltaire in Volume I. A photo of a portrait of Voltaire has been laid in in lieu of a frontispiece. in volume 16 discoloring the paper Th. Desoer hardcover
18192003020120Paris: Renouard 1819-1822 1819. Hardcover. Very Good. 64 volume set of 66. Uniformly bound in later 1/4 leather over yellow marbled boards. Gilt stamped spines. Good bindings and covers. Minor scattered foxing. 164 engraved portraits and plates including folding and facsimiles. Refs: Brunet V.1355 Bengesco IV 2149. Carteret III 16. Querard X 379. Vicaire VII 1137 <br> T. 1-7. Theatre 1819 7 v. . T. 8. La Henriade 1819 434 p. T. 9. La Pucelle d'Oleans 1819 371 p. T. 10. Poemes 1819 479 p. T. 11. Epitres et stances 1819 352 p. T. 12. Contes en vers. Satires et poesies melees 1819 408 p. T. 13-16. Essai sur les moeurs et l'esprit des nations 1819 4 v. . T. 17-18. Le siecle de Louis XIV 1819 2 v. . T. 19. Precis du siecle de Louis XV 1819 456 p. T. 20. Histoire de Charles IX 1819 338 p. T. 21. Histoire de l'empire de Russie 1819 404 p. T. 22. Annales de l'Empire 1819 636 p. T. 23. Histoire du Parlement de Paris 1819 514 p. T. 24-25. Melanges historiques 1819 2 v. . T. 26-27. Politique et legislation 1819 2v. T. 28. Physique 1819 611 p. T. 29-31. Philosophie 1819 3 v. . T. 32. Dialogues et entretiens philosophiques 1819 559 p. T. 33-38. Dictionnaire philosophique 1819 6 v. . T. 39-40. Romans 1819 2 v. . T. 41. Faceties 1821 432 p. T. 42-43. Melanges litteraires 1821 2 v. . T. 44-45. Commentaires sur Corneille 1821 2 v. . T. 46-57. Correspondance 1821 12 v. . T. 58. Correspondance avec l'imperatrice de Russie ; Lettres de plusieurs souverains a M. de Voltaire ; Lettres des princes de Prusse etc. et de M. de Voltaire. 1821 323 104 p. T. 59-61. Correspondance avec le roi de Prusse 91821 3 v. . T. 62. Correspondance avec d'Alembert 1821 756 p. T. 63. Lettres inedites de Voltaire a Mademoiselle Quinault a M. d'Argental au president Henault a M. Damilaville a Madame d'Epinay et autres personnages remarquables 1822 388 p. T. 64. Vie de Voltaire / par Condorcet. Memoires pour servir a la vie de M. de Voltaire ecrits par lui-meme. Commentaire historique sur les oeuvres de l'auteur de "La Henriade" 1822 495 p. <br> This is an oversized or heavy book which requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US. Paris: Renouard [1819-1822] hardcover
181755477à Paris: Chez Antoine-Augustin Renouard 1817. Fine. Chez Antoine-Augustin Renouard à Paris 1817 13.50 x 23 cm 12 volumes reliés Later edition of the works of Pierre Corneille with a commentary by Voltaire. Contemporary half green Russia over paper boards a little rubbed spine with gilt Restoration typographic motifs. A little foxing. The set is illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author drawn and engraved by Auguste de Saint-Aubin and 25 hors texte figures by Jean-Michel Moreau. A very good complete set of the works of Pierre Corneille in contemporary half Russia. Chez Antoine-Augustin Renouard hardcover
1890271451Paris: Librairie des Bibliophiles 1890. hardcover. very good. 10 volumes. 12mo 3/4 tan morocco marbled boards ornately gilt spines 3 small repairs on spines.Paris: Bibliophiles 1890. Very good. A lovely set.<br/> <br/> Librairie des Bibliophiles unknown
182423898Paris: Delangle Frères 1824. Later printing. Hardcover. fair. Octavo. Half leather over marbled paper covered boards with gold lettering on spines. marbled endpapers. Fascinating edition of the works of the most famous French Enlightenment writer essayist and philosopher of all times. It includes: Vol. 1 : Biographie. Vol.2 : Mémoires. Vol. 3-12 : Théâtre. Vol. 13 : La Henriade. Vol. 14 : La Pucelle. Vol. 15-18 : Poésie. Vol. 19-24 : Essai sur les moeurs. Vol. 25-27 : Le Siècle de Louis XIV. Vol. 28-29 : Le Siècle de Louis XV. Vol. 30 : Histoire de Charles XII. Vol. 31 : Histoire de Russie. Vol. 32-33 : Annales de l'Empire. Vol. 34 : Histoire du Parlement de Paris. Vol. 35-37 : Mélanges historiques. Vol. 38-40 : Politique et législation. Vol. 41-42 : Physique. Vol. 43-48 : Philosophie. Vol. 49-50 : Dialogues. Vol. 51-58 : Dictionnaire philosophique petite perte à la coiffe du volume 54. Vol. 59-60 : Romans. Vol. 61 : Facéties. Vol. 62-64 : Mélanges littéraires. Vol. 65-67 : Commentaires. Vol. 68-95 : Correspondance. Vol. 96-97 : Tableau analytique. Some edge wear on bindings with joints edges and corners partly rubbed. A few volumes have their head or tail of spine chipped. Volume 97 has a different binding and is from a different publisher Beaudouin Frères. Only volume 64 is in poor condition with its first 50 pages missing and heavy worming affecting text. Sporadic foxing throughout. Text in French. Bindings in overall fair to good interior in good condition. Delangle Frères hardcover
1899007992London: The Lutetian Society 1899. First Edition Thus. Full Straight-Grained Morocco. Fine. An exceptional copy. No. 415 of 500 copies limitation. Also extra-illustrated with 23 hand-colored engraved plates 21 of which depict scenes from the play and are after J. M. Moreau and two portraits one of Joan of Arc the other of Voltaire. There are also 25 b/w engravings these proofs of plates done by Duplessis-Bertaux. Bound beautifully by R. Wallis for Robson & Co. a rare bookseller at the turn-of-the-twentieth century stated in full straight-grained morocco with five raised bands and gilt spine decoration gilt turn-ins and gilt edges. And plates are all printed on a luxuriant and thick vellum paper. 8vo. 22 by 16 cm. 406 pp. Pagination continuous between two volumes. Some of the Moreau plates are dated 1788 or 1789. We can assume all of the Moreau plates are from that time. They were created for an earlier French edition of the poem and most of them have two line captions quoting the poem. The Condition: Light rubbing evident on raised bands and spine extremities. Otherwise binding fresh tight. Overall a fine copy. The Lutetian Society unknown
180832539-528Paris De l'Imprimerie des Frères Mame & Chez Antoine-Augustin Renouard 1808-16. With 178 engraved plates mostly by Moreau le Jeune. 8vo c. 210 x 140 mm. Late 19th century full red morocco gilt lettering on spines somewhat faded gilt outer and inner fillets all edges gilt. From the library of James Arthur Taylor with his engr. bookplate. Paris De l'Imprimerie des Frères Mame & Chez Antoine-Augustin Renouard 1808-16. Rare edition of Voltaire's 1694-1778 collected works illustrated with a suite of engravings mostly done by J.-M. Moreau le jeune 1741-1814. Single copies from the present edition were also sold separately by Renouard. "Cette collection de gravures est l'une des plus belles qui ait jamais été exécutée pour aucun livre" Fürstenberg. Arranged in 21 vols. by Renouard it contains of: Théatre 9 vols. 1809; Romans 2 vols. 1809 and 1808; Poèmes et discours en vers 1808; Epîtres stances et odes 1808; Contes en vers satires et poésies mèlées 1808; Siècle de Louis XIV 2 vols. 1808; Précis du siècle de Louis XV 1808; Histoire de l'empire de Russie sous Pierre le Grand 1809; La Henriade poème avec les notes et variantes suivi de l'essai sur la poésie épique 1816; La Pucelle d'Orléans poème en vingt et un chants 1816; Histoire de Charles XII roi de Suède 1816. The majority of the volumes are illustrated with 113 engravings by Moreau le Jeune. Renouard added a series of c. 65 portraits of famous peoples mostly engraved by Augustin Saint-Aubin the copper-plates of which Renouard possessed. Probably this is the best-known work of Moreau le Jeune draftsman und engraver. After the first announcement of the publication of the Kehl edition of Voltaire's complete works he started the series of illustrations without an order and on his own account. Later Moreau sold them to Beaumarchais who included them in the de-luxe edition of Voltaire's complete works printed at Kehl in 1785-89. These series was also sold separately as in the present case.- Plates partly browned text-page very clean otherwise a nice set. - Bengesco IV 2184; Quérard La France littéraire X 378-379; Bocher Catalogue de l'oeuvre pp. 582 & 618; Sander Illustr. franz. Bücher 1407; cf. Cohen/de Ricci 1047; cf. Lewine p. 566; no copy in BnF. LITERATURE: FRENCH ; LITERATUR: FREMDSPRACHIGE ; Paris, De l'Imprimerie des Frères Mame & Chez Antoine-Augustin Renouard unknown
1817464397Paris : chez Mme Ve Perronneau ; chez Cérioux aîné 1817. First Beuchot Edition. Hardcover. Very good copies all recased the substantial majority with their original board and spine covers laid-in variably complete. The remaining original covers show the expected scuffs and dust-dulling of age with some spine covers brittle. Vol. 9 is mislabelled ""XLIX."" Marbled endpapers and edges remaining quite vivid on the bottom and fore-edges and dust-toned on the top edges. Text blocks remain tight and very clean on the whole showing only faint foxing to preliminary and final leaves. A handsomely restored and internally well-preserved set. Provenance: each volume bears the bookplate of the Blair Adam Library William Patrick Adam CIE DL 1823-1881. Physical description; complete in 56 volumes : illustrations ; 18 cm. Notes; Published 1817-1821. Contents: Tome 1: Vie de Voltaire / par Condorcet. Choix de pièces justificatives pour la Vie de Voltaire. Mémoires pour servir à la vie de M. de Voltaire écrits par lui-même 1817 VIII 596 pages — Tomes 2-7: Théâtre 1817 6 volumes — Tome 8: Henriade et poèmes historiques 1817 XI 453 pages — Tome 9: Pucelle ; Guerre de Genève ; Épître à Uranie 1817 456 pages — Tome 10: Discours en vers sur l'homme ; Poèmes ; Épîtres 1817 II 565 pages — Tome 11: Stances ; Odes ; Contes en vers ; Satires ; Poésies mêlées 1817 XIV 552 pages — Tomes 12-14: Essai sur les moeurs et l'esprit des nations et sur les principaux faits de l'histoire depuis Charlemagne jusqu'à Louis XIII 1817-1818 3 volumes — Tomes 15-16: Siècle de Louis XIV et Précis du siècle de Louis XV 1818 2 volumes — Tome 17: Histoire de Charles XII roi de Suède suivie de celle de l'empire de Russie sous Pierre-le-Grand 1818 XII 699 pages — Tome 18: Annales de l'Empire depuis Charlemagne 1817 VII 651 pages — Tome 19: Histoire du Parlement de Paris et Fragmens historiques sur l'Inde sur le général Lalli et sur plusieurs autres sujets 1818 VII 513 pages — Tomes 20-21: Mélanges historiques 1818 2 volumes — Tomes 22-23: Politique et législation 1818 2 volumes — Tome 24: Physique 1821 485 pages 4 folding plates — Tomes 25-27: Philosophie générale : métaphysique morale et théologie 1818-1819 3 volumes — Tome 28: Dialogues et entretiens philosophiques 1818 VIII 555 pages — Tomes 29-32: Dictionnaire philosophique 1819 8 volumes — Tomes 33-34: Romans 1821 2 volumes — Tome 35: Facéties parisiennes 1821 VI 423 pages — Tomes 36-37: Mélanges littéraires 1821 2 volumes — Tomes 38-39: Commentaires sur Corneille 1821 2 volumes — Tomes 40-42: Correspondance avec les souverains 1821 3 volumes — Tome 43: Correspondance avec M. d'Alembert 1821 698 pages — Tomes 44-56: Correspondance générale 1821 13 volumes. Subjects; French literature 18th century. French drama. French poetry. Philosophy French. Europe History 18th century France. Correspondence. Condorcet Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat marquis de 1743-1794. Paris : chez Mme Ve Perronneau ; chez Cérioux aîné hardcover
1805047488Paris: Stereotype D'Herhan 1805. Hardcover Full Leather. Near Fine Condition. Bound in early full blue morocco with elaborate gilt decoration of vines and flowers. Inner dentelles gilt and inside front and rear boards red morocco. Slight browning to marbled endpapers scattered minor foxing a touch of rubbing to hinges. A lovely copy in a very fine binding signed on the spine by R.P. Kallenbach. 404pp. Old catalog entry pasted to rear endpaper. <br /> <br /> First published in 1723 La Henriade is a poem in the epic fashion detailing Henry IV's heroics at the 1589 siege of Paris and concerned with religious fanaticism and the crumbling of the state. A lovely edition published near the start of the Napoleonic wars. Size: Octavo 8vo. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Poetry; mem; Inventory No: 047488. Stereotype D'Herhan hardcover
1820801014Paris: E.A. Lequien 1820-1826. leather_bound. stark abgenutzt. Zusammen ca. 35000 Seiten. Ganzleder der Zeit mit Gold- und Blindprägung auf Rücken und Deckeln Stehkanten mit Goldprägung Innenkanten mit Blindprägung marmoriertem Schnitt und Vorsätzen aus Marmorpapier nur wenig berieben und bestoßen Bände 18 23 35 39 40 42 50 54 68 mit kleinen Fehlstellen im Leder nur wenig störend Gelenke vereinzelt mit kleinen Einrissen bzw. restaurierten Einrissen innen nur wenig gebräunt bzw. stockfleckig im Ganzen gute wohlerhaltene Exemplare. - Schönes dekoratives Exemplar der bei P. Didot L'Aisne gedruckten Ausgabe die aufgestellt eine Länge von 220 cm beansprucht. Inhalt der Bände: Bd. 1: Elogen u.a. von Friedrich II. König von Preussen "Vie de Voltaire" von Condorcet; Bd. 2-9: Theatre; Bd. 10: La Henriade; Bd. 11: La Pucelle d'Orleans; Bd. 12-14: Poesies; Bd. 15-18: Essai sur les Moeurs; Bd. 19-20: Siècle de Louis XIV; Bd. 21: Siècle de Louis XV; Bd. 22: Histoire de Charles XII; Bd. 23: Histoire de Russie; Bd. 24: Annales de L'Empire; Bd. 25: Histoire du Parlement; Bd. 26-27: Melanges Historiques; Bd. 28-29: Politique et Législation; Bd. 30: Physique; Bd. 31-34: Philosophie; Bd. 35: Dialogues et Entretiens Philosophiques; Bd. 36-42: Dictionaire Philosophique; Bd. 43-44: Romans; Bd. 45: Facéties; Bd. 46-47: Mélanges Littéraires; Bd. 48-49: Commentaires sur Corneille; Bd. 50-52: Correspondance avec le Roi de Prusse; Bd. 53: Correspondance avec l'Imperatrice de Russie etc.; Bd. 54-55: Correspondance avec d'Alembert; Bd. 56-69: Correspondance générale; Bd. 70: Table analytique des Oeuvres de Voltaire composée par J.B.J. Champagnac. Orientiert sich hinsichtlich der Bandeinteilung nicht aber hinsichtlioch der Numerierung und der Reihenfolge der Werkgruppen an der Ausgabe Kehl. - Bengesco IV 2153 - Vicaire VII Sp. 1137. - Weitere Bilder auf Anfrage oder auf unserer Homepage. Wegen Urlaub kann Ihre Bestellung / Anfrage erst nach dem 21.06.2026 bearbeitet werden. - Because of holidays your order / question can be handled only after 06/21/2026. E.A. Lequien hardcover
182896178Paris: Deslangle Frères 1828-34. Finely bound set of the complete works of Voltaire with historic scientific and literary notes. Octavo 97 volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands marbled endpapers frontispieces with tissues guards and half titles as issued. In very good condition. A complete set covering the broad scope of the versatile and prolific writer. One of the most influential thinkers of the French Enlightenment François-Marie Arouet know by the nom de plum Voltaire was a resourceful and prolific writer. His works touched nearly every literary form including plays poems novels theoretical essays and scientific treatises. A forthright and candid advocate of civil liberties he frequently criticized the institutions of religious dogma and classism prevalent in 18th century France often doing so through satire to avoid censorship and imprisonment. Deslangle Frères hardcover
1893ST17884Paris: Imprimé pour Les Amis de Livres par Chamerot et Renouard 1893. No. 55 OF 115 COPIES printed for M. Van der Vrecken de Bormans. 275 x 190 mm. 10 3/4 x 7 1/2". 4 p.l. 159 3. <br/> DAZZLING CONTEMPORARY SCARLET MOROCCO VERY ORNATELY DECORATED IN GILT SILVER AND BLACK AS WELL AS INLAID BY MARIUS MICHEL stamp-signed on front doublure covers elaborately embellished with a floral frame enclosing a large central panel filled with diapered compartments formed by gently curving black leaves each compartment containing a floral sprig tooled in silver and gold flat spine with similarly decorated ogival compartments and gilt titling OLIVE BROWN MOROCCO DOUBLURES filled with rows of inlaid red carnations with dark green pedicels leather hinges jacquard silk endleaves in pink blue and green pattern marbled flyleaves all edges gilt. Original white textured paper wrappers bound in. In a slightly worn brown morocco-trimmed marbled paper slipcase. With eight pleasing color engravings by Rops 4 Robaudi 2 and Garnier 2 depicting scenes from the story accompanied by 29 proofs in red yellow cyan and black & white as called for in the colophon. A Large Paper Copy. Front flyleaf with INK INSCRIPTION SIGNED BY MARIUS MICHEL and dated Mai 1920 noting that he had bound this copy for M. Van der Vrecken de Bormans in 1896 for a very substantial price of 600 francs. Carteret IV 407; Vicaire I 47. Three blank front flyleaves with narrow faint brown horizontal blemish across most of the page apparently a tape shadow; in all other ways A BEAUTIFUL COPY clean fresh and bright internally IN A PRISTINE BINDING.<br/> <br/> This ravishing object is a bibliophile's treasure: an illustrated luxury edition in Large Paper format of Voltaire's philosophical novel offered in a binding from a pre-eminent Parisian atelier. The impressive binding stands out not only because of its remarkable condition but also because of the variety and unerring execution of its decorative elements--from the vigorous use of black gold and silver on the cover and spine to the particularly animated inlaid morocco doublures. Considered the best binder of his generation as well as the founder of modern French bookbinding Henri Marius Michel 1846-1925 began his career in the workshop established by his father Jean in Paris in 1849 where they produced distinguished bindings in the prevailing historical styles for two decades. After the father's death in 1890 the firm came to even greater prominence when Henri began producing bindings in a completely new and original style that did nothing less than change the course of modern bookbinding in France. According to Duncan & De Bartha Henri believed passionately "that bookbinding needed a new vocabulary of ornamentation in order to express the mood and spirit of contemporary authors." The "vocabulary of ornamentation" he developed was based on nature the revolutionary "La Flore Ornamentale" style that he unveiled at the 1878 International Exposition. His favored floral forms dominate the present binding both as inlays and as silver and gold tooling. Our binding was commissioned by Paul Van der Vrecken Baron de Bormans an attaché at the Belgian Embassy in Paris and a bibliophile who belonged to "La société du livre contemporain" as well as the "Cercle Parisien du livre." The 600 francs the binding cost would have bought a very great deal in France at the end of the 19th century. Another copy of this work with the same special features and also bound in inlaid morocco by Marius Michel sold at Sotheby's in 1995 for the hammer price equivalent of $31200. Imprimé pour Les Amis de Livres par Chamerot et Renouard unknown