Paris, Moutard, Queen’s Bookseller, 1776.
Octavo of xvi pp., 559 pp., (5) pp., 14 full-page plates out of text. Bound in full porphyry calf of the time, triple gilt fillet around the boards, spine with raised bands adorned with gilt fleurons, green morocco title piece, gilt fillet on the edges, gilt edges. Binding of the time.
195 x 123 mm.
First edition published on the occasion of the coronation ceremonies of Louis XVI. Sander 138; Saffroy, I, 15227; Barbier, II, 755; Brunet, VI, 1310; Lipperheide 2479.
“ Born in Saint-Hilaire near Orléans, on November 4, 1738, Charles-Joseph Bévy, a Benedictine of the congregation of Saint-Maur and of the house of Saint-Denis, had reached his thirty-eighth year when he published a work entitled: ‘History of the inaugurations of kings, emperors, and other sovereigns of the universe’ with engravings, in-8. This book, to which the recent coronation of Louis XVI gave contextual interest, drew the benevolent attention of the Count of Saint-Germain to the author. ”
The work was noted and earned the Benedictine Dom Bévy (1738-1830) the position of historiographer of France for Flanders and Hainaut.
“ 14 figures including 81 costumes, drawn by Michel Rieg, engraved by Ingouf and Trière. ” (Cohen, 145).
“ These 14 plates represent about 80 French costumes from the 13th to the 18th century. ” (Colas, I, 320). Sumptuous copy, undoubtedly unique, all the plates of which have been magnificently hand-colored at the time and enhanced with gold. No bibliographer was aware of such a colored copy.
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