The most valuable listed copy, printed on Dutch paper,
bound in blue morocco by Padeloup adorned with a lace pattern with a bird motif of the time
aux coat of arms of the Count of Calenberg (1685-1772).
Paris, 1750.
Mariette, Jean. Treatise on Engraved Stones.
Paris, Imprimerie de l’auteur, 1750.
2 small folio volumes. Volume I: (5) leaves, 468 pages, 1 leaf, 2 plates outside the text including 1 folding, (1) title leaf between pp. 152 and 153, (1) leaf 447*; Volume II: (2) leaves, xii pages of preface, (2) leaves, 132 leaves, (65) leaves.
Blue morocco, broad roulette forming lace framing the covers, made of interlacing and flowers, birds and insects, arms stamped in gold at the center of the covers, spine with raised bands adorned with gilt lines and rosettes, tassels and small flowers, red morocco title and volume labels, double gilt line on the edges, inner gilt roulette, gilt edges. Binding of the time attributable to Padeloup.
314 x 203 mm.
Original edition and first printing of this ” oesteemed work ” says Brunet, adorned with 267 engraved subjects by Count de Caylus after the drawings of Bouchardon.
Cohen de Ricci 683; Sander 1287.
Mariette, a famous print collector, reveals in the Notice to the Reader that he deals with ” The manner of engraving of the Ancients and Moderns in the first volume ».
He continues: “I devoted the entire second Volume to the representation of the most beautiful Intaglio Engraved Stones from the King’s Cabinet, which having first been drawn with as much taste as intelligence, and then entrusted to a light and easy burin, yet firm and precise, cannot fail toe please the Connoisseurs. “
Mariette entrusted to Bouchardon, one of the best European draftsmen, the task of drawing the engraved stones and asked his friend the Count de Caylus to engrave them.
The first collection consists of a history of engravers and engraving from antiquity and a « mechanical nature of the art of engraving on stones”.
The illustration is included in the second volume divided into 2 parts: ” The subjects “, with commentary on each medal represented page by page, and ” The heads ” which are grouped 2 on the same plate.
The entire illustration includes 3 full-page engraved titles, 5 vignettes, and 199 plates containing 259 subjects.
The very pure copy, printed on fine Dutch paper, in period blue morocco is adorned with the arms of Count Henri de Calenberg chamberlain of the Emperor of Germany, general, master of the camp, lord of the chamber of the Elector of Saxony (1685-1772).
He had built a splendid library of very well-conditioned works, most of them in morocco (Catalogue, Brussels, J. Ermens, 1773).
Cohen describes only one copy bound in calf and mentions that there are copies on Dutch paper, as is the case with this copy.
