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NEWTwo pieces in one hardcover volume, 200 x 129 boards, 196 x 121 block, bound in full marble calf outlined with triple gilt fillet, gilt filleted edges, dentelle inside, flat spine tooled in gilt with fleurons in compartments, burgundy morocco label lettered in gilt “POT | POURRI”, marbled endpapers, bookplate “MK” to front pastedown, all edges gilt, one flyleaf in the front and one in the rear, 18 engraved plates, incl. two frontispieces by François-Rolland Elluin after Antoine Borel, letterpress tailpieces and frames, printed on laid paper with illegible watermark. Collation: Part 1 (Tentation): h.t.π, t.p.1, + 9 leaves of framed text printed on one side of the leaf – pp. 2-9 on verso, p. 10 on recto, followed by 4 leaves of musical notation printed on both sides (numbered 1-8), i.e. 15 leaves, plus engraved frontispiece and 8 plates, unsigned. Text attributed to Michel-Jean Sedaine. Part 2 (Pot-pourri): h.t.π, t.p.1, + 9 leaves of framed text printed on one side of the leaf – p. 2 on recto, pp. 3-10 on verso, 1 leaf “FIN” followed by 6 leaves of musical notation printed on both sides (pp. 1-12, number 11 upside down), i.e. 18 leaves, plus engraved frontispiece (t.p.) and 8 plates, unsigned. Text attributed to Antoine-Alexandre-Henri Poinsinet (1735-1769) Seller’s note: In-8, veau porphyre, encadrement de triple filet dorée sur les plats, dos lisse orné, pièce de titre en maroquin bordeaux, coupes filetées, tranches dorées (Reliure de l’époque). Faux-titre, titre-frontispice, 10 ff., 8 gravures, 8 pp. de musique gravée ; Faux-titre, titre- frontispice, 10 ff., [1 f.], 8 gravures, 12 pp. de musique gravée. Même édition que la précédente, imprimée sur vergé. Menus frottements à la reliure, taches éparses. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen de Ricci p. 948; Dutel A № A-1049. Contributors : Michel-Jean Sedaine (French, 1719 – 1797) Antoine-Alexandre-Henri Poinsinet [le jeune] (French, 1735 – 1769) François-Rolland Elluin (French, 1745 – 1810) Antoine Borel (French, 1743 – 1810) -
NEWHardcover, 130 x 87 mm boards, 124 x 79 mm block, full mottled sheepskin, gilt-tooled flat spine, gilt fleurons in compartments, crimson morocco label lettered in gilt, board edges tooled gilt; marbled endpapers, bookseller ticket and bookplate “ GERARD NORDMANN EX-LIBRIS”; text and plates printed on laid paper. Collated 18mo: A-M6 (i.e. 72 leaves); pp.:[1-3] 4-143 [144], plus 8 engraved plates, incl. frontispiece, plus one flyleaf in the front and one in the rear. Title-page: BIBLIOTHÈQUE | DES | PAILLARDS, | CHOIX DE POÉSIES | EROTIQUES. | — | A PARIS, | Chez Madame BELLE MOTTE; | rue des Déchargeurs. | AU TEMPLE DE LA VOLUPTÉ. || Title-page: ELÉONORE, | OU | L'HEUREUSE PERSONNE. | Deuxième Édition. | — | A PARIS, | Chez les Marchands de nouveautés. |— | AN VIII. || Faux-t.p.: LA | COMTESSE | D'OLONNE, | COMEDIE | DE M. DE BUSSI RABUTIN. || Table des matières. Épitre dédicatoire La Foutro-Manie Ode à Priape Quatrain du comte de Guiche à M. d'Olonne La Comtesse d'Olonne, comédie Mon testament Le Chapitre général des Cordeliers Le débauché converti La gageure, conte Étymologie de l'Aze-te-foute, conte. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel I № A-146, p. 63; Nordmann II № 90. Provenance: Gérard Nordmann (Swiss, 1930 – 1992). -
NEWHardcover, 132 x 86 mm boards, 127 x 78 mm block, full brown mottled calf bordered with triple gilt fillet, flat spine tooled in gilt, gilt fleurons in compartments, black title label with gilt lettering, board edge tooled gilt, gilt dentelle inside, marbled endpapers, “MK” and “EX-LIBRIS • YVES • REFOULÉ” bookplates to front pastedown (the latter by Picart after Georges Leone), block of watermarked laid paper (Van Gilder?), all edges gilt; text with tall ‘s’. Title-page: L'ARETIN | FRANÇOIS, | PAR UN MEMBRE | DE L'ACADÉMIE DES DAMES. | (in rules) J'appelle un Chat, un Chat. / BOILEAU. | {fleuron} | A LONDRES. | — | 1787. || Faux-t.p.: LES ÉPICES | DE VÉNUS | OU |PIECES DIVERSES | DU MÊME ACADEMICIEN. | (in rules) Les plus intolérans sont les plus vicieux. / ANONYME. | {fleuron} | A LONDRES. | — | 1787. || Collation 18mo: Two ffl at front and two at rear, [a1] h.t./blank, [a2] blank/frontis. stanza, frontispiece plate with guard, [a3] t.p./blank, [a4] advert., [a5] intro/blank; after that the structure is following: recto blank/octave stanza on verso, tissue guard, plate on recto, repeated 17 times, χ1 décima stanza ‘Résumé’ (subtotal 23 leaves unsigned, unpaginated); π2 (h.t., t.p.), A-D6 E3 (subtotal 29 leaves), paginated [4] 1-53 [54], plus one plate with guard oppos. p. 8. The total number is 23+29=52 leaves plus 19 plates with tissue guard each and 4 flyleaves. Plates were executed in etching and burin on copper plates by François-Rolland Elluin (French, 1745 – 1810) after Antoine Borel (French, 1743 – 1810). Catalogue raisonné: Fekete № 141; Dutel № A-99; Nordmann II №№ 396, 397; Eros invaincu № 3, p. 26; Cohen de Ricci pp. 89/90. Text attributed to: Nogaret, François-Félix (French, 1740 – 1831) -
NEWHardcover volume 129 x 84 mm boards, 123 x 76 mm block, full contemporary lavalier-glazed calf, signed DUCASTIN at spine tail, panels framed with a gold fillet and a blind frieze, flat spine decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, roulettes at the head and tail, garnet red calf title label with gilt lettering, gilt dotted lines on the edges, interior dentelle, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, “GERARD NORDMANN EX-LIBRIS” bookplate to front pastedown. Collation 18mo: A-O6 P5 (i.e. 89 leaves); pp.: [i-v] vi-viii [9] 10-178, plus 5 plates with tissue guards, incl. frontispiece, and one flyleaf at the front and one at the rear. Plates: It is believed the edition had only 3 plates, including the frontispiece, and two plates were added, one signed “C. p. Marillier, inv. — E. De Ghendt sculp.” Title-page: ELÉONORE, | OU | L'HEUREUSE PERSONNE. | Deuxième Édition. | — | A PARIS, | Chez les Marchands de nouveautés. |— | AN VIII. || Catalogue raisonné: Dutel № A-314, p. 109 ; Nordmann II №188, p. 93. Provenance: Gustave Lehec (French, 1841 – 1922); Gérard Nordmann (Swiss, 1930 – 1992). Contributors: Clément Pierre Marillier (French, 1740–1808) – artist Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt (Flemish, worked in France, 1738–1815) – engraver Alexis Pierre Ducastin [Ducastaing] (French, 1785 – 1860) – binder Nordmann's description: In-18 écu (124 x 78 mm). 178 pp. A frontispiece and 2 free figures. 2 added figures, one signed after Marillier and engraved by de Ghendt. Contemporary binding signed by Ducastin. Glazed lavallière calf, double frame of the covers with a gold fillet and a blind frieze, spine decorated with gilt fillets and fleurons, roulettes at the head and tail, garnet calf title piece, gilt title, dotted lines on the edges, interior lace, marbled guards, gilt edges (some minor foxing). The second edition (very likely a fictitious mention) is of great rarity. It is decorated with a frontispiece and has engraved figures, to which two additional plates have been added. The story is the reverse of that of Tiresias: a woman is endowed by a sylph with the power to be alternately a man and a woman and to taste the pleasures of each of the two sexes. "This results in numerous and very piquant adventures; easy and graceful style" (Galitzin). MAGNIFICENT COPY, RARE IN ITS FULL STRICTLY CONTEMPORARY BINDING and signed on the back by one of the great bookbinders of the time, Pierre Alexis Ducastin (1785-1860), member of a dynasty of printers and bookbinders dating back to Henri IV. Lehec cites this copy in his Galitzin catalogue (no. 546): "...charming copy; lavalier calf stamped very rare, admirable conservation". Pia Enfer, 412; B.N. Enfer, 634. -
NEWTwo volumes, 133 x 88 mm each, uniformly bound in full tree calf, bordered in gilt garland, board edges and flat spine tooled in gilt, gilt fleurons in compartments, two crimson morocco labels to spine lettered in gilt; marbled endpapers, bookplate “MK” to front pastedown, one binder’s flyleaf in the front and one in the rear. Title-page: MÉMOIRES | DE | SATURNIN, | ÉCRITS PAR LUI-MÊME, | Nouvelle édition, corrigée & augmentée, | avec Figures. | (in rules) PREMIERE PARTIE / SECONDE PATIE [sic]. | {fleuron} | A LONDRES. | — | M. DCCLXXXVII. || Collation 18mo: Vol. 1: π2 A-T6 V4 (i.e. 118 leaves); pp.: [4] 1-235 [236 blank], plus 13 plates, incl. frontispiece, extraneous to collation. Vol. 2: π2 A-M6 N4 (i.e. 76 leaves); pp.: [4] [1] 2-151 [152], plus 11 plates, extraneous to collation. Twenty-four plates were executed in etching and burin on copper plate by François-Rolland Elluin (French, 1745 – 1810) after Antoine Borel (French, 1743 – 1810). Catalogue raisonné: Cohen 431; Dutel I № A-523, p. 166/7 ; Nordmann I № 156 (large 185 x 125 mm) Author: Gervaise de La Touche, Jean-Charles (French, 1715 – 1782) Microphotographs:
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NEWThree volumes, 124 x 80 mm each, uniformly bound in full marble calf, panels ruled in triple gilt fillet, board edges ruled in gilt, flat spine tooled in gilt with fleurons in compartments, burgundy calf labels lettered in gilt; marbled endpapers, text printed with tall ‘s’ on laid paper with letter “E” under fleur-de-lis watermark. Title-page: LE | MOYEN | DE | PARVENIR. | NOUVELLE ÉDITION, | Augmentée d'une Table sommaire | des Chapitres. | (in rules) Caritas inter jocosve regnat Moria. | TOME PREMIER / SECOND. | {fleuron} | A LONDRES. | — | M. DCC. LXXXI. || Collation 32mo, 1 flyleaf at the front and 1 at the rear in each vol. Vol. 1: πA6 b-e6 f2, A-Q6 R3 (i.e. 131 leaves); pp.: [i, ii] iii-lxiv, [1] 2-197 [198]. Vol. 2: π1 A-Y6, Z2 (i.e. 135 leaves); pp.: [2] [1] 2-267 [268]. Vol. 3: π1 A-Y6, Z2 2A1 (136); pp.: [2] [1] 2-270. Author: Béroalde de Verville, François (French, 1556 – 1626)
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NEWTwo volumes, 132 x 85 mm, uniformly bound in mottled calf, panel bordered with gilt garland, flat spine richly tooled in gilt, gilt lettered black label, blue endpapers, “MK” bookplate to front pastedown, gilt-ruled edges and dentelle inside, all edges gilt, an etching on india paper laid in; text and plates printed on laid paper, with tall ‘s’. Vol. 1: Collation 18mo: A-C-E-G12 B-D-F-H6 I10(I10 blank) (i.e. 82 leaves); pp. [1-5] 6-161 [3], plus 9 plates with tissue guards, extr. to collation; and a flyleaf at the front and at the rear. Title-page: THÉRESE | PHILOSOPHE, | OU | MÉMOIRES | Pour servir à l'Histoire de D. DIRRAG, & | de Mademoiselle ERADICE. | Nouvelle édition, augmentée d'un plus | grand nombre de figures que toutes les | précédentes. | (in rules) TOME PREMIER. | {fleuron} | A LONDRES. | — | M.DCC.LXXXV. || Vol. 2: Collation 18mo: ffl, π2 A-C-E6 B-D12 (D11,12 blank) ffl (i.e. 44 leaves); pp.: [4] [1] 2-80 [4], plus 11 plates with tissue guards, extr. to collation; and a flyleaf at the front and at the rear. Title-page: THÉRESE | PHILOSOPHE, | AVEC | L'HISTOIRE | DE | MME BOIS-LAURIER. | Nouvelle édition, augmentée d'un plus | grand nombre de figures que toutes les | précédentes. | (in rules) TOME SECOND. | A LONDRES. | M.DCC.LXXXV. || Twenty plates were executed in stipple engraving by an unknown engraver after François-Rolland Elluin (French, 1745 – 1810) after Antoine Borel (French, 1743 – 1810). Elluin’s plates are executed in etching and burin, besides: pl. 2 mirror image, pl. 5 and 6 mixed up, pl. 9 here is pl. 19 in the original, pl. 12 here is pl. 9 in the original, pl. 11 is 10, pl. 10 is 11, pl. 13 is p. 12, pl. 16 is pl. 13, pl. 14 does not have clocks, p. 14 corrected by hand to 15 and it is 15 indeed, pl. 17 is pl. 16, pl. 18 is pl. 17, pl. 19 is pl. 18, woman has no hat. The edition is legitimate; however, the plates are pirated copies. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel № 1092, p. 235/6. Contributors: Boyer d'Argens, Jean-Baptiste (French, 1703 – 1771)] Borel, Antoine (French, 1743 – 1810) « Eradice » – Cadière, Marie-Catherine (French, 1709 – ?) « D. Dirrag » – Girard, Jean-Baptiste (French, 1680 – 1733) Laid in sheet — illustration to Thérèse philosopher by Félicien Rops.
Microphotographs of certain plates in this edition:
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NEWTwo volumes in one, 131 x 89 mm, bound in full burgundy morocco, panels ruled with triple gilt fillet, gilt filleted edges, interior gilt dentelle, flat spine with double gilt fillet bands, gilt fleurons in compartments, gilt title label and date at the foot to spine (modern pastiche binding); all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, two bookplates to front pastedown: “MK” and “Ex-libris Yves Refoulé”, the latter drawn by Georges Leone and engraved by Picard. Laid paper with a hardly legible watermark resembles Van Gelder’s beehive. Letterpress head- and tailpieces. Collation 6to: (24mo) t. 1: π3 A-L6 M5; t. 2: χ3 N-Z6 2A6, 2B5, 2 blanks, 100 plates (pl. 32 and 33 is one) within collation, but extraneous to pagination, thus uncounted — pp.: t. 1: [4] 1-48, t. 2: [4] 49-100, total 155 leaves or 310 pages, incl. plates and everything but two binder’s flyleaves at the front and two at the rear. Vigesimo-quarto, 24mo (13 x 9 cm) – typical Cazin’s book format. Title-page: LE | CABINET | DE | LAMPSAQUE, | OU | Choix d'Épigrammes érotiques des plus célebres | Poëtes François. | (in rules) TOME PREMIER/SECOND). | {fleuron putto 1/2} | A PAPHOS. | — | 1784. || One hundred figures are executed by burin on a copper plate and attributed to Claude Louis Desrais (French, 1746 – 1816) or some Leclerc, who is unlikely to be Sébastien Leclerc (1637 – 1714), living 100 years earlier. The author of the text is unknown. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen p.197 – provides for 16mo; Dutel № A-171 – provides for 12mo, pagination as 1-50 and 51-100, and mentions the 1st edition in 1744, but does not provide a description of the latter. “Lampsacus was also notable for its worship of Priapus, who was said to have been born there”. -
NEWHardcover, 169 x 100 mm, quarter brown sheepskin over speckled paper, flat spine, gilt double fillet bands, crimson morocco label with gilt lettering, printed on French paper watermarked “FIN 1787”; two volumes in one, collated in 12mo. Tome premier: π1 h.t., A8 (A1 t.p., A2,3 Lettre de Sophie au chevalier d'Olzan), B4 C8 D4 E8 F4 G8, H4, I4; pp.: [2] [i-iii] iv-vi, [7] 8-104, plus three plates, p. 24 printed on cream wove paper, pp. 66, 67 on blue laid paper (or pasted on such). Tome second: A8 (incl. h.t. and t.p.) B4 C8 D4 E8 F4 G8 H4 I8 K4, L4; pp.: [1-5] 6-127 [1 blank]; all three plates printed on cream wove paper; plate marked as p.68 is after p. 64, plate marked p.64 is after p. 68, plate p. 79 is on its place. Plates attributed to Louis Binet. Text is attributed mainly to Comte de Mirabeau; however, Guillaume Apollinaire, in his L’Enfer de la Bibliothèque Nationale (1913), believes that Marquis de Sentilly wrote it. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen-de Ricci 709; Dutel I A-988, p. 294. Contributors: Mirabeau, Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de (French, 1749 – 1791) Binet, Louis (French, 1744 – 1800) Seller's description: Deux parties en un volume in-12. 165 x 97 mm. Tome premier: I f. n. ch. faux-titre, 104 pp. y compris le titre avec une vignette gravée, la "Lettre de Sophie au chevalier d'Olzan" qui débute l'ouvrage est paginée en chiffres romains. Tome second: 127 pp. tout compris et 1 p. bl. 6 gravures libres non signées qui sont de Binet. Reliure de l'époque. Demi-basane brune, plats de papier coquille moucheté, dos lisse omé de deux filets dorés répétés, pièce de titre de maroquin rouge, lettres dorées, tranches jaspées. Reliure un peu frottée, coins émoussés. Quelques rousseurs. Rarissime deuxième édition de cet Émile de l'éducation sexuelle enrichie de gravures libres attribuables à Binet. -
NEWHardcover 470 x 305 mm, bound in 20th century by a previous owner in quarter vellum over marbled boards, 2 blank fly leaves as endpapers, in-folio, 15 laid paper leaves 450 x 290 mm, i-iv t.p., preface, 8 unpag. leaves incl. f.t. “Première partie / la myologie”, incl. 7 plates, and 5 leaves under f.t. “Deuxieme partie / l’osteologie”, incl 3 plates. A ms signed letter from a previous seller laid in: Librars & Antiquaria s.r.l., Roma, dated 17/7/83; their ticket at rear pastedown. Title-page: ABRÉGÉ | D'ANATOMIE, | ACCOMMODÉ AUX ARTS | DE PEINTURE | ET | DE SCULPTURE, | Par FRANÇOIS TORTEBAT, Peintre de l'Académie de Peinture & de Sculpture, | Et mis dans un ordre nouveau, dont la méthode est très-facile & débarrassée de toutes les | difficultés & choses inutiles, qui ont toujours eté un grand obstacle aux Peintres pour | arriver à la perfection de leur Art. | PAR DE PILES. | OUVRAGE très-utile & très-nécessaire à tous ceux | qui font profession du Dessin. | — | A PARIS, | Du Fonds de CHARLES-ANTOINE JOMBERT, | Chez {BARRIOS, l’aîné, Libraire, rue de Savoie, № 23; | MAGIMEL, Libraire, quai das Augustins, près le Pont-neuf. | — | 8. || Faux-title (1): ABRÉGÉ | D'ANATOMIE, | ACCOMMODE AUX ARTS | DE PEINTURE | ET | DE SCULPTURE | LA PREMIÈRE PARTIE (in double-rules) | CONTENANT | LA MYOLOGIE | OU DESCRIPTION DES MUSCLES, | ET LA CONNOISSANCE DE LEURS PRINCIPALS FONCTIONS. || Faux-title (2): […] DEUXIEME PARTIE (in double-rules) | CONTENANT | L'OSTÉOLOGIE | OU | LA CONNOISSANCE DES OS. || Contributors: François Tortebat (French, 1616 – 1690) – artist/engraver Roger de Piles (French, 1635 – 1709) – author Charles-Antoine Jombert (French, 1712 – 1784) – publisher -
Finely carved as a rat (nezumi) seated on a shuro brush, bound naturalistically with thick bristles. The rodent with a long trailing tail and eyes inlaid in a dark horn. Generously excavated, asymmetrical himotoshi to the underside. According to Merrily Baird (Symbols of Japan, p. 156): …The Japanese do not clearly differentiate between the rat and the mouse, and one word, nezumi [鼠], designates both. …Rat is a messenger of Daikokuten, a deity of grain and vegetation who is one of Japan’s Seven Gods of Good Luck. ...Depictions of the rat are most common in years of the zodiac represented by the animal. Late 18th century. Dimensions: 49 x 33 x 16 mm. Provenance: From the private collection of Armand Basi (Spanish, 1924-2009). -
Netsuke with a design of an old man carrying a giant mushroom on his back. Possibly signed on his left foot. According to Merrily Baird (Symbols of Japan, page. 93): ... This prominent use in the symbol-rich netsuke art form, however, reflects more their sexual symbolism than either their dietary appeal or interesting shapes. Mushrooms in Japan are generally a symbol of fertility, with some flat varieties, like shiitake, being associated with females. In contrast, the matsutake mushroom (Armillaria edodes) is a phallic symbol, as befits its thick, spearlike stem and the fact that it is consumed before cap opens.
Seller's description: "The old man carved walking, with one foot slightly raised, wearing a loose fitted robe and carrying a large long-stemmed mushroom on his back. The wood stained and bearing a fine patina. Himotoshi through the mushroom stem". See VO-0270.2018 for the same subject. Late 18th century. Dimensions: 62 mm tall -
Agate snuff bottle of rounded rectangular form on raised foot with round neck, cream body with dark brown inclusion, carved in relief with a sage seated under a wooded rock, and a duck; round red agate stopper with brass collar. Late 18th or 19th century. The Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Dimensions: H72 x W48 x D28 mm -
Two volumes, 168 x 106 mm each, uniformly bound in faux mottled calf ruled in gilt, marbled endpapers. Vol. 1: 3 blank leaves of wove paper, 3 blank leaves of laid paper, half-title/blank, blank/frontispiece, ‘engraved’ t.p./blank, both printed on laid paper watermarked “ARCHES A LA | MAIN”; ‘letterpress’ t.p.,/blank, pp.: [1] 2-115 [116 blank], 3 blank leaves of laid paper, 3 blank leaves of wove paper; collated 12mo: π2 A-I6 K4; total 60 leaves plus 16 ‘engraved’ plates, incl. t.p. and frontis. Vol. 2: 3 blank leaves of wove paper, 3 blank leaves of laid paper, half-title/blank, blank/frontispiece, ‘engraved’ t.p./blank, no watermark, ‘letterpress’ t.p.,/blank, pp.: 1-77 [78 blank], 2 blank leaves of laid paper, 3 blank leaves of wove paper; collated 12mo: π2 A-F6 G3; total 41 leaves plus 24 ‘engraved’ plates, incl. t.p. and frontis. Dutel (I): A-1089, p. 325: in-8 (probably by size only, no formula suggested), pagination 115 and 77 as here, 2 frontispieces, 2 engraved titles dated 1873, “et 36 belles gravures de Binet”. Cohen-DeRicci: p. 734 bottom: in-12, no pagination, no formula. "Thérèse" was offered by a French seller user-75d14f4 on the online auction platform CATAWIKI in December 2021. The seller's description of this two-volume set was: "Re-edition, the date of which I was unable to determine. (London, no name, 1782) 2 duodecimo volumes of 115 and 77 pp., very lovely marbled sheepskin pastiche bindings, gilded triple fillets, adorned spines, black title labels. This classic of 18th-century clandestine erotica was written in 1748 by an author who has remained anonymous, attributed at the time to Montigny, which led to his internment in the Bastille. It is now attributed to the Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens. Edition illustrated with 37 very unrestrained figures, engraved in intaglio after Borel, unsigned." I should have paid more attention to the first phase, about the re-edition, but I didn't. After a few bidding rounds, I won the book when the hammer price was 2,200 Euros. On the 28th of December, 2021, I paid for this little beauty $2,760. The book arrived a few days later. The paper's quality and texture, the watermark, the absence of the platemark, and the lack of embossing on the back (text and plates) made me suspect it was a fake. The pages were absolutely flat to the touch! I established clear evidence of a high-resolution 'xerox' copy using Celestron Micro Capture Pro micro-photography. I wrote to the seller and the auction platform, explaining my doubts regarding its authenticity. To prove my point, I include a few micro photos of the "Thérèse" and some books printed at the end of the 18th century. I explained why I considered it a fake and requested a return/refund. After two months of email exchanges, the seller and the platform refused to pay me back. Today is the 2nd anniversary of the purchase. I still have the book. To celebrate my carelessness, I included it in my library to warn fellow book collectors about buying from an unknown dealer via certain online auction platforms. Ref.: Bamber Gascoigne. How to Identify Prints: A Complete Guide to Manual and Mechanical Processes from Woodcut to Ink. — Thames and Hudson, 1995.
Books used for comparison: [LIB-2743.2021] Restif de la Bretonne. Les parisiennes, ou XL caractères généraux pris dans les mœurs actuelles, propres à servir à l’instruction des personnes-du-sexe / 4 vol. — Neufchâtel, et Paris: Guillot, 1787. [LIB-3027.2022] [Héliodore d’Emèse]. Amours de Théagènes et Chariclée: Histoire Éthiopique / 2 vol. — Londres [i.e. Paris]: [s.n.], 1743. [LIB-3252.2023] [Nicolas Chorier.] Le Meursius françois, ou entretiens galans d’Aloysia, orné de figures. — Cythere [i.e. Paris: Cazin], 1782. Below is a Xerox copy for comparison.Thérèse philosophe, 1783.
Late 18th century books
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Hardcover volume, 12mo, 125 x 85 mm, two parts in one, bound and gilded by Cuzin and Maillard, respectively, between 1876 and 1881, in crimson crushed morocco with raised bands and gilt lettering to spine, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, gilt dentelle, signed 'Cuzin' to foot of front turn-in and 'Maillard dor.' to rear. Adorned with engraved frontispiece and 12 plates by Elluin after Borel. Text printed on a slightly bluish paper. Title-page: LE | MEURSIUS FRANÇOIS, | OU | ENTRETIENS GALANS | D'ALOYSIA. | ORNÉ | DE FIGURES. | — | TOME PREMIER (SECOND) | — | ✵ | A CYTHERE | — | M. DCC. LXXXII. || Collation: 12mo, π4 (2 blanks) A-Z6 χ1,+ π2 A-S6 (4 blanks) χ1, total 254 leaves; pagination: [8] [1] 2-277 [278 blank], [4] [1] 2-210 [8 blanks], total 508 pages, plus 13 engraved plates, incl. frontispiece. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen-de Ricci 240; Eros invaincu 17; Fekete 51; Nordmann (I) 91. Contributors: Nicolas Chorier (French, 1612 – 1692) – author. Antoine Borel (French, 1743 – 1810) – artist. François-Rolland Elluin (French, 1745 – c. 1822) – engraver. Hubert-Martin Cazin (French, 1724 – 1795) – publisher. Francisque Cuzin (French, 1836 – 1890) – bookbinder. Seller’s description: Erotica.- [Chorier (Nicolas)]Le Meursius François, ou Entretiens galans d'Aloysia, 2 parts in 1, half-title to each part, engraved frontispiece and 12 plates [by Elluin after Borel], handsomely bound in crimson crushed morocco by Cuzin, spine with gilt lettering and five raised bands, gilt tooled turn-ins by Maillard, signed 'Cuzin' to foot of front turn-in and 'Maillard dor.' to rear, marbled endpapers, g.e., fractional rubbing to extremities, an excellent copy, 12mo, Cythere [but Paris], [Cazin], 1782. -
Hardcover volume, collated 18mo, 130 x 85 mm (2 parts in one). Contemporary burgundy morocco outlined with gilt triple fillet, flat spine gilt in compartments, brown morocco label gilt, all edges gilt, gilt dentelle, text printed on slightly blue laid paper with illegible watermark; dark blue endpapers, Tony Fekete (T. F.) bookplate by Wahorn to front pastedown. Frontispiece and 14 engraved plates by Elluin after Borel, with guard tissue. Graphite ms to h.t.: "Figures de Borrel. | Gravées pr. Elluin." Title-page: NOUVELLE TRADUCTION | DE | WOMAN OF PLEASUR, | OU | FILLE DE JOIE. | PAR M. CLELAND, | CONTENANT les Mémoires | de Mademoiselle FANNY, | écrits par elle – même. | AVEC FIGURES | — | PREMIERE (SECONDE) PARTIE. | — | ~ | A LONDRES; | Chez G. FENTON, dans le Strand; | — | M. DCC. LXXVI. || Collation: 18mo throughout A-O12/6, total 126 leaves plus 15 plates, incl. frontispiece. Pagination: separate for each part [1-5] 6-119 [120 blank], [1-3] 4-132, total 252 pages. Provenance: Tony Fekete (Christie’s 2014, № 54, p. 37; Price realized GBP 11,875): “[CLELAND, John (1709-1789).] Nouvelle traduction de Woman of Pleasur [sic] ou Fille de Joie. Contenant les Mémoires de Mademoiselle Fanny, écrits par elle-même. London [but Paris]: G. Fenton [Cazin], 1776. 2 volumes in one, duodecimo (128 x 80 mm). Printed on blue tinted paper. Frontispiece and 14 engraved plates on thick white paper by Elluin after Borel. (Short tear repaired in the margin of one plate, another plate with a faint dampstain touching the facing leaf of text.) Contemporary burgundy morocco, flat spine gilt in compartments, morocco label gilt, covers with a gilt triple fillet border, gilt edges, blue endpapers. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 18TH-CENTURY ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THIS CELEBRATED EROTIC NOVEL. An excellent copy bound in contemporary morocco. It is the second translation into French, but the first to include the exquisite plates by Elluin after Borel. These are some of the best illustrations by this remarkable partnership responsible for a number of important 18th-century libertine texts. Cohen-DeRicci 242-3; Dutel A-407 ; Gay-Lemonnyer II, 304; Pia Enfer, 915.” Catalogue raisonné: Dutel (I) A-407, p. 134; Cohen-DeRicci 242-3; Fekete (Christie's) 54, p. 37. Contributors: John Cleland (British, c. 1709 – 1789). François-Rolland Elluin (French, 1745 – c. 1822) Antoine Borel (French, 1743 – 1810) Hubert-Martin Cazin (French, 1724 – 1795) András Wahorn (Hungarian, b. 1953) Fekete, Tony Laszlo (Hungarian, b. 1972) -
A shunga (erotic) print by Suzuki Harunobu [鈴木 春信] (Japanese, c. 1725 – 1770) depicting a woman making love with a man in the palanquin (のりもの/乗り物) while the other woman "ties a sash about her hips below her obi." The sheet is not signed; however, it is attributed to Harunobu. A reference image can be found in the Metropolitan Museum (NY) collection, Accession Number JP1635:According to the MET "the palanquin ... has carried these courtesans to the shore for a spring outing". Some time ago, a similar print was sold by Richard Kruml (description: A chuban shunga print showing the occupant of a kago in flagrante with one of the porters, having seized the opportunity of a stop on the journey. Published late 1760s. Rare). Another copy was sold at Sotheby's in Paris for €3,360 on November 27, 2002 (Lot 24), with a reproduction of the print's detail and description on p. 39: Suzuki Harunobu (1725 – 1770) | Shunga: couple dans un palanquin, vers 1768-1770, non-signe, cachet non identifé, cachets Charles Mitchell, Huguette Berès, Format chuban, 20.1 x 28.6 cm | 3000 – 4000 € | Il s’agit probablement de trois voyageurs, l’un d’entre eux debout près du palanquin faisant mine d’ignorer la scène. Bibliographie: Delay p. 87. Reference: [LIB-3121.2022] Sotheby's: Collection Huguette Berès – Estampes, dessins et livres illustrés japonais / 2 volumes; vol. 1. — Paris: Sotheby's, 2002.
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/45071
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Two 8vo volumes bound in one, 19 x 12.5 cm, in full mottled sheepskin with gilt-bordered boards, gilt decorated flat spine with gilt-lettered red and black calf labels, rebacked, marbled endpapers and edges, printed on wove paper, plates on thicker laid paper. Title-page: FABLES | MISES EN VERS | PAR J. DE LA FONTAINE. | TOME PREMIER (SECOND). | {medallion portrait} (printer’s device “PC”) | A PARIS, | CHEZ ANT. AUG. RENOUARD. | M. DCC. XCV. || Collation: Vol. 1: π2 (h.t./imprint, t.p. medallion portrait/blank), [1]-38 (Notice sur la vie…), 1-58 64 (Vie de la Fontaine, Épitre, Préface, Vie d’Ésope), [7]-148 156 χ3 (table); pagination [4] [i] ii-xlviii, [1] 2-234. Total 143 leaves (286 pages) plus 6 plates after Moreau le Jeune by Devilliers fratres (p. 112), E. De Ghendt (pp. 122 and 181), Jean Louis Delignon (p. 140), Delvaux (p. 197), and Ph. Trière (p. 219). Title medallion portrait of La Fontaine (G Rigault pinx. – C S Gaucher inc.) by Gaucher after Rigaud. Vol. 2: π2 1-158 164; pagination [4] [1] 2-247 [248 blank]. Total 126 leaves (252 pages) plus 6 plates after Moreau le Jeune by Devilliers fratres (p. 19), Villerey (pp. 37, 80, and 146), Bosq (p. 121), and Ph. Trière (p. 199). The book published in 1795 (An 3) supplemented with plates produced in 1811 and 1812 for Œuvres complèttes (sic) de Jean de la Fontaine published by Lefèvre in 1814. The reason for choosing this particular edition for someone's library shortly after 1814 was probably the absence of censorship in 1795. Catalogue raisonné: (1) Lewine [LIB-2538.2020] on p. 276 (Paris, chez Renouard, 1795, 2 vols., 8vo., medal portrait on first title, and 12 plates after Moreau by Delvaux, Bosq, Ghendt, Trière, and Villerey). (2) M.-J.-F. Mahérault. L' oeuvre de Moreau le Jeune : catalogue raisonné et descriptif avec notes iconographiques et bibliographiques. — Paris: A. Labitte, 1880. Contributors: Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621–1695) – author. Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune (French, 1741–1814) – artist. Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659 – 1743) – artist. Antoine-Augustin Renouard (French, 1765 – 1853) – publisher. Pierre Causse (French, 1761 – 1834) – printer. Engravers: Charles Étienne Gaucher (French, 1741 – 1804) Etienne De Villiers [Devilliers, Devilliers fratres] (French, 1784 – after 1844) Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt (Flemish, worked in France, 1738 – 1815) Jean-Louis Delignon (French, 1755 – 1820) Rémi Henri Joseph Delvaux (French, 1748 – 1823) Philippe Trière (French, 1756 – c. 1815) Auguste Villerey (French, 1801 – 1846) Jean Bosq (French, fl. c. 1801 – 1844)
