Paris, Leroy, 1788.
2 parts in 2 folio volumes [388 x 250 mm] of: I/ 1 frontispiece, 104 pp. and 50 engraved portraits; II/ (2) ll., 100 pp., (3) pp. of table and privilege, 50 engraved portraits. Bound in full light brown marbled calf, triple blind-stamped fillet around the covers, flat spines decorated with royal arms, flags and cannons in the panels, red calf lettering pieces, red edges. Contemporary binding.
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First edition of this work gathering biographies of a hundred political, religious, scientific or artistic personalities who have marked Europe since the Renaissance until the end of the 18th century. Catalogue Peignot, 1280; Brunet, III, 408.
This work was handed out in 10 issues of 10 characters each.
“This compilation contains a hundred printed biographical sketches, and as much engraved portraits.” (Brunet).
“Illustrated with portraits, by the best masters”. Bibliotheca Hulthemiana, III, 21968.
“100 engraved portraits. Sketches and portraits by Fr. Boucher, Cte de Caylus, Falconnet, Franck, Largillière, Restout, Servandoni, Carle Vanloo. This work is sought-after mostly because of Edelinck’s portraits. » (J. Goddé, Catalogue raisonné d’une collection de livres, 1008).
A beautiful copy preserved in its contemporary bindings with spines finely decorated with royal arms and military emblems.
Among the French public institutions, only the Médiathèque de Chambéry, the Bibliothèque de Versailles and the National Library of France own this first edition.
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