• 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.

    Thérèse philosophe, 1783.

    Late 18th century books

    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.    
  • Fables de La Fontaine / édition illustrée par J. J. Grandville (in 2 volumes). – Paris: H. Fournier Ainé, Perronin, 1838. Imp. H. Fournier et Ce, 14 rue de Seine (Premier Tirage). Vol 1: [2 - ht, imprim.] [2 - blank with handwritten inscription, frontis.] [2 - t.p., blank], [ [i] ii-xxviii - épitre, préface, [2 - plate 'fables', [1] 2 - dedication, [3, 4 - pltate: livre 1, blank] [5, 6 - plate: blank, cigale] [7] 8 - fab.1 (the subsequent plates are not paginated) - 292. (245-246 - Avertissement), (247-248 - A mamdam de Montespan); Wood engravings: frontispiece + half-title Fables + 7 running half-titles Livres des Fables + 72 plates. Vol. 2: [2 - ht, imprim.] [2 - t.p., blank] [1, 2 - plate 'livre 8', blank] [3] 4-312 (191-192 épilogue), (195-196 Au duc de Bourgogne), (268 - fin des fables), (269-296 Philemon et Baucis | D. O. M. | La Martone Déphèse | Belphegor), (297 -308 notice), (309-312 table); Wood engravings: 5 running half-titles Livres des Fables + 1 half-title Philemon et Baucis  + 48 plates. Size: 8vo, 23.2 x 15 cm. Binding: Full tree-calf, flat spine stamped with gilt, red and brown labels with gilt lettering, marbled endpapers. Handwritten nut ink inscription to blank recto of frontispiece: the history of Millet-Fontaine family (provenance?) There were two print-runs in the year 1838. According to Léopold Carteret (Le trésor du bibliophile. Epoque romantique. 1801-1875 / Livres illustrés du XIXe siècle. – Paris: L. Carteret; imprim. Lahure, 1927, pp. 357-9), the first run (Premier Tirage) published by H. Fournier and Perrotin, while the Second Tirage by H. Fournier Ainé. Though, the initial cap character "N" at p. xiii (vie d'Ésope) in this copy is formed by 'faite de lignes bouclées' as in the first print-run, rather than by 'petits carreaux noirs et blances' as in the second. We can conclude with confidence that this copy belongs to Premier Tirage. Wood engravings (135 plates, including frontispiece, and numerous headpieces and initial letters) were cut by the following artists (the first number is the number of the chapter ('livre'), the second – the number of the fable within the 'livre': Wood engravers: John Bastin, (British, fl. 1840 – 1850): 6-6, 7-13, and 8-9. Alexandre Belhatte (French, born in 1811): 3-11 and chapter title pages to 'livres' 6, 11, 12, headpices on p. 117 in vol. 2, and 'Philemon et Baucis' section title page. J. Constantine Beneworth (active France, 19th century): 1-6. Louis-Henri Brévière (French, 1797 – 1869): 1-10, 2-7, 6-10, 6-21, 7-4, 8-10, 8-27, 9-3, 10-4, 12-11, frontispice, together with François-Louis Français (French, 1814–1897), and 'Fin des fables' tailpiece. Brévière et Hébert: Louis-Henri Brévière (French, 1797 – 1869) and César-Auguste Hébert (French, active 19th century): 1-1, 1-2, 1-13, 1-18, 2-2, 2-11, 3-1, 3-3, 3-4, 3-18, 4-20, 4-21, 4-22, 5-5, 5-20, 6-2, 6-8, 7-3, 8-7, 8-12, 8-14, 8-17, 9-14, 10-6, 10-16, 11-6, 12-4, 12-25. Joseph-Hippolyte-Jules Caqué (French, 1814 – 1885): 7-11 and headpieces on p. 251 in vol. 1 and on p. 197 in vol. 2. Prosper-Adolphe-Léon Cherrier (French, born 1806): 8-6. Henry Isidore Chevauchet (French, fl. 1837 – 1850): 1-19, 2-4, and 4-5. Louis Dujardin (French, 1808 – 1859): 10-9. Pierre-François Godard (French, 1768 – 1838): 1-5, 1-16, 5-2, and 10-11. Charles David Laing (British, fl. 1836 – 1853): 7-9. Lacoste père et fils aîné et Auguste-Alexandre Guillaumot (French, 1815 – 1892): 1-4, 1-20, 9-17, and 11-5. Laisné (Alfred, Adèle, and Aglaé) (French, active 1835–1868): 5-8, 6-5, 6-17, 8-2, 8-15, 9-9, 9-10, 11-1, 11-8, 12-10. (Alfred, Adèle, and Aglaé) Laisné (French, active 1835–1868): 5-8, 6-5, 6-17, 8-2, 8-15, 9-9, 9-10, 11-1, 11-8, 12-10. Théodore Maurisset (French, fl. 1834 – 1859): 2-14 and 6-13. Antoine-Alphée Piaud (French, 1813 – 1867): 1-17, 2-9, 2-16, 4-1, 4-4, 5-15, 5-17, 5-18, 5-21, 8-22, 8-23, 8-25, 9-19, 10-13, 11-3, 11-9, 12-13, 12-15, 12-21, three 'livres': 3, 9, 10, and headpiece on p. 71 in vol. 2. Roux-Jourdain: Two 'livre' title pages, 1 and 2. John Orrin Smith (British, 1799 – 1843): 2-13, 2-18, 3-9, 3-14, 4-9, and 4-14.L. Chauchefoin (French): 2-3 and 5.13. Matthew Urlwin Sears (British, 1799 – 1870): 10-1 and 12-9. Monogram TM or MT (possibly for Théodore Maurisset): 6-16 and 10-3. Monogram GO–> (possibly for Godard) : 5-3, 7-1, and 9-5. Monogram B and BV: 4-11, 12-6, 'livre' 4, and headpieces on p. 1 in vol. 1 and on p. 167 in vol. 2. Unsigned or with an illegible signature: "fables' section title, 1-3, 1-9, 3-5, 3-8, 4-15, 4-18, 5-10, 7-7, 7-16, 9-2, 9-4, 12-2, 12-3, 12-17, and two 'livre' title pages, 5 and 8. Little is know about Matthew Urlwin Sears. He was a wood engraver of good reputation who is known to have worked in London in the early 1820s, Paris and Leipzig. Listed as "wood engraver" on records of the UK Printing Historical Society. Work The British Museum owns three of his earliest published works, engravings for Northcote's Fables (1828). He authored "Specimen of stereotype ornaments, 1825" which was reprinted as a facsimile in 1990 by the Printing Historical Society (London), with a foreword by James Mosley. He is mentioned by Pierre Gusman in "La Gravure sur Bois en France" (Paris, 1929). Laurent's Histoire de l'Empereur Napoleon, (1839) is one of many publications on which both Sears and his partner John Quartly worked, as well as numerous other engravers. His work appeared in "Aunt Effie's Rhymes" (1852) and "Uncle Tom's Cabin", by Harriet Beech Stowe (Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1853) [Claire-Juliette Beale, December 2009].
  • Title: GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE | FERNAND FLEURET LOUIS PERCEAU | L'Enfer | DE LA | BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE | ICONO-BIO-BIBLIOGRAPHIE | DESCRIPTIVE, CRITIQUE ET RAISONNÉE, | COMPLÈTE A CE JOUR | DE TOUS LES OUVRAGES COMPOSANT CETTE CÉLÈBRE COLLECTION | AVEC UN INDEX ALPHABÉTIQUE | DES TITRES ET NOMS D'AUTEURS | PARIS | MERCVRE DE FRANCE | XXVI, RVE DE CONDÉ, XXVI | MCMXII || Pagination: ffl, [1-5] 6-415 [416], bfl. Collation: [1]8 2-268. Binding: Original tan wrappers, lettering to covers and spine. Edition: First edition of which this is №952. Ref.: BnF
  • DICTIONNAIRE | d'Argot | FIN-DE-SIÈCLE | PAR | Charles VIRMAITRE | {publisher's device "A.C."} | PARIS | A. CHARLES, LIBRAIRE | 8, RUE MONSIEUR-LE-PRINCE, 8 | 1894 || Pagination : [i-ix] x-xxiii [xxiv blank] [1] 2-336 + [3] 6-176; note: in Supplement – before page 6 only 3 pages. Collation: π4 ii8 [1]-1718 196 (180 leaves) + [1]17 3-[7]18 916 (87 leaves). Binding: Brown cloth, blind double-fillets, gilt lettering to the title.
  • Vol. 1: Title page: LES AVENTURES | DE | TÉLÉMAQUE, | PAR FÉNELON. — | TOME PREMIER. | {publisher’s arms by Beugnet after Choffard} | DE L'IMPRIMERIE DE MONSIEUR. | M. DCC. LXXXV. || Title-frontispiece (engraved by Montulay): lettering within garland: Les Aventures de Télémaque,  FILS D’ULYSSE. GRAVÉES | D’APRÈS LES DESSEINS | DE | CHARLES MONNET | PEINTRE DU ROY | PAR | JEAN BAPTISTE | TILLIARD. ||; Lettering on ribbon beneath the garland: A PARIS | Chez L’AUTEUR Quay des Grands Augustins | Maison de Mr. Debure Fils Aîné Libraire. M. DCC. LXXIII. | AVEC PRIVILEGE DU ROY. ||; Signed under the frame: Montulay Sculpsit. || Pagination: [2] – h.t. / imprint, [2] – t.p. / blank, [2] Advert., [2] d.t.p. / sommaire, [1] 2-309 [3 blanks], total 320 pages on thick wove paper plus engraved title-frontis. by Montulay, 12 engraved text leaves (one for each book), unsigned, and 36 plates (all in ornamental frame of laurel ribbon) by Tilliard after Monnet, all engravings on laid paper. Collation: 4to; vergé flyleaves at front and back, π4 A-2P4 plus 4 additional divisional titles in choirs C, F, I, and M for books 2-5, total 160 leaves, plus 49 plates. Vol. 2: Title page: Same but “TOME SECOND”. Pagination: [2] – h.t. / imprint, [2] – t.p. / blank, [1-3] 4-297 [298 blank] [2] – approb., total 304 pages plus 12 engraved text leaves (one for each book), and 36 plates, last 6 plates in a simple frame without the laurel ribbon and before signatures. Collation: 4to; π2 A-2O4 2P1 χ1, total 152 leaves, plus 48 plates. Binding: Two volumes uniformly bound in green paper boards with two red labels lettered in gilt, untrimmed. Size: overall 36.5 x 28 cm, platemark 32 x 25 cm, with white vergé flyleaves to front and back, similar pastedowns. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen, de Ricci (1912): 384-386; Ray (French): № 37, p. 74; Lewine (1898): p. 181. Contributors: François Fénelon [François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon]  (French, 1651 – 1715) – author. Choffard, Pierre Philippe (French, 1730 – 1809) – artist. Monnet, Charles (French, 1732 – after 1808) – artist. Montulay (French, fl. c. 1773)  – engraver. Tilliard, Jean Baptiste (French, 1740 – 1813) – engraver. Beugnet, Jean (French, c. 1803) – engraver. Didot, Pierre-François (French, 1731 – 1795) – printer. Barrois, Louis-François (French, 1748 – 1835?); Barrois, Pierre-Théophile (French, 1752 – 1836); Onfroy, Eugène (French, before 1765 – 1809) ; Delalain, Louis-Alexandre (French, 1749? – 1798) – booksellers.  
  • Front wrapper and title-page (in red and black): LE COFFRET DU BIBLIOPHILE ILLUSTRE | Pamphlets et Tableaux de mœurs intimes | CORRESPONDANCE | DE | Madame Gourdan | dite La Comtesse | INTRODUCTION ET NOTES PAR J. HERVEZ. | POINTES SÈCHES DE | P.-E. BECAT | {device} | PARIS | BIBLIOTHÈQUE DES CURIEUX | 4, rue de Furstenberg, 4 | Édition réservée aux souscripteurs || Limitation: L'édition illustrée du "Coffret | du bibliophile" est tirée à 750 | exemplaires, sur vergé de Rives, | numérotés de 1 à 750 | № 353 || Limited edition of 750 copies on Rives laid paper, of which this is copy № 353. Collation: fep, 3 blanks, front wrapper, 3 blanks vergé, [2] h.t. / limit., [2] t.p., [5] 6-188, blank, back wrapper, 3 blanks, fep., plus 12 plates, dry-points by P.-É. Bécat, extraneous to collation, incl. frontispiece. Binding: 16 x 10.3 cm, red crushed morocco, gilt lettering to spine, marbled endpapers, printed on laid paper, original wrappers preserved. Contributors: Marguerite Gourdan [Marguerite Alexandrine Ernestine Stock] (French, c. 1730 –1783) – fictional author. Jean Hervez (French, 1864 – ?) – author (preface). Charles Théveneau de Morande (French, 1741 – 1805) – presumable author of the text. Paul-Émile Bécat (French, 1885 – 1960) – artist. Bibliothèque des curieux [Georges & Robert Briffaut], Georges Briffaut (French, 1886 – 1973) – publisher. Previous editions: First published 1783, under the title: "Le portefeuille de Madame Gourdan" in London by Jean Nourse. Bibliothèque des curieux, 1910. Bibliothèque des curieux, 1924.  
  • Description: 19th-century binding, 8vo,18.9 x 11.7 cm, in patterned quarter green shagreen over marbled boards, gilt elements and lettering to spine (reliure romantique), printed on laid paper, with tall "s", margins sprinkled blue. Title-page (red and black): L'ART | D'AIMER, | NOUVEAU POËME | EN SIX CHANTS, | Par Monsieur ***** Gouge de Cessières. | Edition fidéle & complette, enrichie de | Figures. | {vignette} | A LONDRES. | Aux dépens de la Compagnie. | = | M. DCC. L. || Includes: La Mort de Zulnï (pp.  175-190 ), Idée de l'Art d'aimer d'Ovide (pp. 191-244), and Lettre écrite à Monsieur *** de ******de l'Académie... (pp. 245-261). Collation: 8vo; a-b8, A-Q8 R3, lacking K2 (pp. 147/8); total 146 leaves (of 147) plus 8 engraved plates, unsigned, incl. frontispiece. Pagination: [i, ii] iii-xxxii, [1, 2] 3-261 [262 blank], lacking pp. 147/8 (K2), possibly containing Argument du chant VI; total 292 pages (of 294), ils. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen-DeRicci (under Ovid) 775, Lewine (under Ovid) 398. The artist and engravers of this edition are unknown. "Another edition, Londres (Paris), 1760, with frontispiece after Eisen by Martinet, and 6 plates after Martinet". Contributors: François-Étienne Gouge de Cessières (French, 1724 – 1782) – author. Ovid [Publius Ovidius Naso] (Roman, 43 B.C. – A.D. 17) – author. Aux dépens de la Compagnie (1685 – 1780) (Amsterdam) – publisher.
  • Two volumes in-16o, 16.3 x 10.3 cm, uniformly bound in marbled calf with gilt triple-fillet border, flat spine with gilt lozenges in compartments, two crimson labels with gilt lettering, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, with engraved title, 2 title vignettes, 11 copper plate engravings, incl. title/frontispiece in vol. 1, and 10 headpieces (two of them similar), printed on laid paper. Vol. 1: Livres 1 – 5. Engraved title-page: Cartouche with the title "Les | Amours de | THEAGENES | & | CHARICLÉE", with a Cupid holding a torch on top and a defeated winged dragon at the bottom; Cupid's quivers with bows and arrows beside. Collation: 8vo; a5 (t.p., preface), A-N8 O4 (O4 blank), total 113 leaves plus 6 unsigned engraved plates, incl. engraved title as frontispiece, unsigned; 5 different headpieces, unsigned. Pagination: [i, ii] iii-x, [1] 2-213 [3] (blank), total 226 pages, ils. Vol. 2: Livres 6 – 10. Collation: 8vo; π1 (t.p.), A-M8, total 97 leaves plus 6 unsigned plates, incl. the Conclusion, no frontispiece; 5 headpieces, the headpiece for Livre 7 similar to Livre 4. Pagination: [2] [1] 2-190 [2] (blank), total 194 pages, ils. Letterpress title-page (red and black) in each volume: AMOURS | DE | THEAGÉNES | ET | CHARICLÉE• | HISTOIRE ETHIOPIQUE. | PREMIERE (SECONDE) PARTIE. | {vignette} | A LONDRES, | — | M. DCC. XLIII. || According to Cohen-DeRicci, this is the first anonymous edition with 9 different headpieces; the second edition in the same 1743 was published by Antoine Urban Coustelier (French, 1714 – 1763) in Paris with less provocative headpiece vignettes. The original text belongs to Héliodore d'Emèse, i.e. Heliodorus [Ἡλιόδωρος] (Greek, 3rd – 4th century AD). The earliest translation into French was performed by Jacques Amyot (French, 1513 – 1593) and published by J. Longis in Paris in 1547. The new translation is credited by Lewine to Jean de Montlyard (French/Swiss, 17th century), first published in Paris in 1620. However, most scholars attribute it to Louis François de Fontenu (French, 1667 – 1759), Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle (French, 1657 – 1757) or Germain François Poullain de Saint-Foix (French, 1698 – 1776), first published in 1727 by Herman Uytwerf (Dutch, 1698 – 1754) in Amsterdam. Catalogue raisonné : J. Lewine, 236; Cohen-DeRicci, 478. Information about the story can be found here: Aethiopica.  
  • Single volume, 18 x 12.5 cm, bound in ¾ crimson morocco over marbled boards, gilt double-fillet borders, spine with gilded raised bands, gilt in compartments, gilt-lettered label, marbled endpapers, top margin gilt, text printed on dense wove paper, with 8 etchings by anonymous on thin laid paper (Chine) with tissue guards, after original lithographs by Devéria and Henri Grévedon or Octave Tassaert for the 1833 edition (1926 re-print LIB-3135.2023); the plate with the ape after 1864 edition (LIB-3087.2022) and the plate with the donkey after unknown. Title-page: GAMIANI | OU | DEUX NUITS D’EXCES | PAR | A D M | — | EN HOLLANDE | – | 1866 || Pagination: [4] (h.t., t.p.), [i] ii-xvi, [3] 4-153 [154 blank]; total 158 pages plus 8 plates (anonymous etchings), incl. frontispiece. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel I: A-470; Pia: 518/9. BNF Enfer 418. Note: This edition is conformant with Dutel, but not with Pia, who mentions [2], xvi, 148 pp. Pia writes: 'According to a bibliographic record published in 1874 by Vital Puissant, this edition was printed in Brussels by Briard on behalf of Alphonse Lécrivain, a Parisian publisher who took refuge in Belgium'. Catalogue Poulet-Malassis & ses amis description: № 74. [Alfred de MUSSET] A D M. Gamiani ou deux nuits d’excès. En Hollande, 1866. In-8 de xvi, 153 pages, demi-maroquin cerise à coins, dos à nerfs orné, lets dorés sur les mors, tête dorée, tranches naturelles, couverture conservée (reliure ancienne). Illustré de 8 gravures sur Chine dont l’une en frontispice, toutes accompagnées de serpentines. Piqûres et mouillures. Dutel A-470, pas à l’Enfer de la BnF.  
  • Hardcover volume, 8vo, 21.5 x 14.5 cm, bound by Riviere & Son (stamped on fep verso bottom) in full brown calf, boards with triple gilt fillet border and gilt dentelle inside, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, black label with gilt lettering, all margins gilt, blue endpapers, bookplate of Arthur Rau pasted to front pastedown (text: Les hommes sont méchants mais leurs livres sont bons / Arthur Rau; signed: E. H. New – A.D. 1922), traces of removed owner’s label to fep recto; printed on laid paper. Title-page (engraved, in floral frame): LE TEMPLE | DE GNIDE. | Mis en Vers | Par M. Colardeau | {vignette with portrait of Pierre Corneille} | A PARIS | Chez le Jay, Libraire, Rue St. Jacques au dessus de | celle des Mathurins au Grand Corneille || Collation: 2 blanks, h.t., engraved t.p. with a portrait of Pierre Corneille, a8, A-E8 F4 (52 leaves), 2 blanks, plus 7 plates by various engravers after Charles Monnet. Pagination: [i] ii-xvi, [1] 2-88 (104 pp). Ref: MFA (Boston): accession number 37.1747 Catalogue raisonné: Lewine 114, Cohen-DeRicci 245-6. Contributors: Charles Monnet (French, 1732 – after 1808) – artist. Engravers:  Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721 – 1777) Nicolas Delaunay (French, 1739 – 1792) Isidore Stanislas Helman (French, 1743 – 1806) Louis Joseph Masquelier (French, 1741 – 1811) François Denis Née (French, 1735 – 1818) Nicholas Ponce (French, 1746 – 1831) Portrait(s) designed by: Guillaume Voiriot (French, 1713 – 1799) Author: Charles-Pierre Colardeau (French, 1732 – 1776) Publisher: Edmé-Jean Le Jay (French, 1734 – 1795) Bookplate artist: Edmund Hort New (British, 1871 – 1931) Provenance: Arthur Rau (British, 1898 – 1972); his obituary can be found in The Book Collector 1973, vol. 22, n°1, p. 86-89. According to the genealogy service Geni, Arthur Aron Rau was born to Jacob Aryeh Rau and Katharina (Kaethe) Rau, and has a sister Cecilia (Tsipporah) Rosenfelder and a brother Frederick Solomon Rau. He went to Oxford and then joined Maggs Brothers in their Paris establishment. "After some years there, he set up on his own, returning to England at the outbreak of the Second World War to be a schoolmaster for ten years". In 1949 he returned to Paris and retired in 1963, "and his last years he happily spent in Wensleydale...". All he published during his lifetime were two catalogues, Livres Rares Et Anciens. Manuscrits et Autographes. — Paris: Arthur Rau, 1932-3 and Cinquante Tres Beaux Livres Avec Un Appendice. — Paris: Arthur Rau, 1933. He also contributed to The Book Collector.
    Seller’s description: In-8° : [2]-t. gr.-xvi-88 pp. ; 7 h.-t. (qqs rouss.). - Poème d'après le roman de Montesquieu ill. de 7 eaux-fortes par Bacquoy, Delaunay, Née, etc., d'après Charles Monnet. Titre gr. orné d'un portr. de Corneille. Cohen, qui cite un ex. millésimé 1773, signale des ex. avec la date de 1772 ou sans date. - Réf. Cohen 245-246. - Conlon 72:675 (éd. à l'adresse d'Amsterdam et Paris, 1772). - Pas dans Reynaud. - Prov. Arthur Rau (1898-1972), gérant de la librairie Maggs à Paris avant d'ouvrir sa propre librairie en 1932 (ex-libris gr. par E.H. New, 1922 ; réf. BnF). - Traces d'ex-libris décollé à la garde sup.
  • Four parts bound in two 18mo volumes (1-2 & 3-4), half polished brown calf, dot-ruled, flat spine with gilt bands and lettering, marbled boards, some plates with guard sheets, margins sparkled red. Title-page: LES LIAISONS | DANGEREUSES, | Ou Lettres recueillies dans une | société, et publiées pour l’ins- | truction de quelques autres. | par  C….. de L… | — | J’ai vu les mœurs de mon temps, et j’ai publié | ces Lettres. | J. J. Rous. Préf. De la nouv. Hél. | PREMIÈRE PARTIE. | — | A GENEVE. | 1792. || Vol. 1: Pagination: ffep, blank, [2] – h.t., [i, ii] – t.p. part one, [iii] iv-xxij, [1] 2-245 [246] + 2 plates (p. 26 & p. 75); [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part two, [5] 6-233 [234], fep + 2 plates (p. 59 & p. 222). Collation: part 1: a12, A-M18 N5; part 2: A-M18 N9, plus four plates by various engravers after Le Barbier. Vol. 2: Pagination: ffep, blank, [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part three, [5] 6-225 [226] + 2 plates (p. 69 & p. 215); [1, 2] – h.t., [3, 4] – t.p. part four, [5] 6-250, fep + 2 plates (p. 25 & p. 201). Collation: part 3: A-M18 N5; part 4: A-N18 O5, plus four plates by various engravers after Le Barbier. Illustrations: After Le Barbier, engravers: Halbou (1), Simonet (1), N. Thomas (2), Dambrun (2), and Delignon (2). In the first illustration (vol. 1, part one, p. 26) Le Barbier signed “Le Barbier Jnv. 1794”, however, the edition was published (anonymously) in 1792. Cohen-De Ricci mentions an edition of 1794 (Paris: Maradan) and 1801 (Genéve) with the same plates. Lewine mentions a reprint of 1794 without naming the publisher. Catalogue raisonné: Cohen-De Ricci: 234-5, Ray: p. 79; Lewine: 109-10. Contributors: Choderlos de Laclos, Pierre Ambroise François (French, 1741 – 1803) – author. Le Barbier, Jean-Jacques-François (French, 1738 – 1826) – artist Engravers: Dambrun, Jean (French, 1741 – c. 1808) Delignon, Jean Louis (French, 1755 – 1804) Halbou, Louis Michel (1730 – 1809) Thomas, N. (French, c. 1750 – 1812) Simonet, Jean-Baptiste Blaise (French, 1742 – 1813)
  • Cover: (original wrapper) PARIS-CANARD| PAR | CH. VIRMAITRE | A. SAVINE, Édeiteur, rue Drouot, 18, PARIS || Wood engraving to cover signed LeNatur — Michelet, sc. Title page: CHARLES VIRMAITRE | PARIS–CANARD | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | NOUVELLE LIBRAIRIE PARISIENNE | ALBERT SAVINE, ÉDITEUR | 18, RUE DROUOT, 18 | 1888 | Tous droits réservés. || Pagination: 2 blank leaves, original pictorial wrapper, [4], [1] 2-319 [320 blank], original back wrapper with publisher’s advertisement, 2 blank leaves. Collation: 12mo; π2, 1-1712 184. Binding: 18 x 12 cm, hardcover; quarter blue percaline, marbled boards, red title label ruled gilt with gilt lettering, gilt double tail ruler, fleuron to spine; original paper wrappers preserved. Bookplate to front pastedown: "EX LIBRIS EUGENE SELIGMANN" written on a ribbon; ink inscription to half-title in french: "To my good friends Paul Vogler and Maurice Radiguet, former – for a new acquaintance, latter – to become great." Signed: Ch. Virmaitre. Paul Vogler (French, 1853 – 1904) – painter in the Impressionist style. Jules Maurice Radiguet (French, 1866 – 1941) – illustrator , caricaturist and cartoonist. Father of Raymond Radiguet (French, 1903 – 1923).  
  • Vol. 1 : Title : LES | RUES DE PARIS | PARIS ANCIEN ET MODERNE | ORIGINES, HISTOIRE | MONUMENTS, COSTUMES, MŒURS, CHRONIQUES ET TRADITIONS | OUVRAGE | RÉDIGÉ PAR L’ÉLITE DE LA LITTÉRATURE CONTEMPORAINE | SOUS LA DIRECTION DE | LOUIS LURINE | et illustré de 300 dessins exécutés par les artistes les plus distingués | TOME PREMIER | { publisher’s device «G.K.» in vignette} | PARIS | G. KUGELMANN, ÉDITEUR, 25 RUE JACOB | 1844 || Pagination: [4] [1] 2-396 [4], total number of pages 404, plus 21 wood-engraved plates, incl. frontispiece, extraneous to collation. Collation: 4to; π2 [1]4 2-504, total number of leaves 202, plus 21 leaves of plates. Vol. 2: Title: Same, “TOME SECOND”. Pagination: [4] [1] 2-411 [412] [4], total number of pages 420, plus 22 wood engraved plates, incl. frontispiece, extraneous to collation. Collation: 4to; π2, 1-524, total number of leaves 210, plus 22 leaves of plates. Binding: 27 x 17 cm, two volumes uniformly bound by the publisher in brown cloth, blind-stamped frame and gilt design (corners, coat of arms of Paris, lettering) to boards and spine, yellow endpapers. CONTRIBUTORS: Printer: Alfred Wittersheim (French, 1825 – 1881) Publisher: Georges Kugelmann (French, 1809 – 1882) Editor/Compiler: Louis Lurine (French, 1816 – 1860) Texts by: Briffault, Eugène (French, 1799 – 1854); Janin, Jules Gabriel (French, 1804 – 1874); Huart, Louis Adrien (French, 1813 – 1865); Burette, Théodose (French, 1804 – 1847); Beauvoir, Roger de (French, 1806 – 1866); Brot, Charles Alphonse (French, 1807 – 1895); Le Roux de Lincy, Antoine (French, 1806 – 1869); Achard, Louis Amédée Eugène (French, 1814 – 1875). Illustrated book, profusely illustrated with over 300 woodcuts by: ArtistsDaumier, Honoré (French, 1808 – 1879); Gavarni , Paul [Chevalier, Hippolyte Guillaume Sulpice] (French, 1804 – 1866); Nanteuil, Célestin François (French, 1813 – 1873); Baron, Henri (French, 1816 – 1885); Beaumont, Édouard de (French, 1821 – 1888); David, Jules (French, 1808 – 1892); Marckl, Louis (French, b. 1807); Schlesinger, Heinrich [Henri-Guillaume] (German-French, 1814 – 1893); Collignon, François Jules (French, d. 1850); Godefroy, Félix (French, 1765 – 1848); Lemercier, Charles Nicolas (French, 1797 – 1859); Loutrel, Victor Jean-Baptiste (French, 1821 – 1908); May, Edouard (French, c. 1807 – 1881); Moraine, Louis-Pierre René de (French, 1816 – 1864); Moynet, Jean Pierre (French, 1819 – 1876); Rossigneux, Charles (French, 1818 – 1907). Engravers: Bara, J. (French, b. c. 1812); Brugnot (French, fl.c. 1834 – 1873); Castan, André (French, 19th century); Budziłowicz, Ignacy (Polish-French, 1805 – 1863); Chevauchet (French, fl. 1837 – 1850); Pégard (French, 19th century); Czechowicz, A. (Polish-French, fl. 1840 – 1850); Debraine, T. Etienne (French, 19th century); Deschamps, M. (French, 19th century); Fauchery, Jean-Claude Auguste (French, 1798 – 1843); Ghouy, de (French, fl. mid-19th century); Montigneul, Émile (French, fl. 1840 – 1850); Joret, J. (French, 19th century); Fity, A. (French, 19th century); Guillaumot, Eugène (French, 1813 – 1869); Halley-Hiback (French, 19th century); Lacoste père et fils (French, fl. 1830s – 1860s); Lenepveu (French, 19th century); Lesestre, Jean Théophile Gustave (French, 1815 – 1873); Pannemaker, Adolphe François (Belgian-French, 1822 – 1900); Piaud, Antoine Alphée (French, 1813 – 1867); Pisan, Héliodore Joseph (French, 1822 – 1890); Pollet A. (French, 1840 – 1860); Pouget, Jean-Achille (French, fl. 1844 – 1877); Porret, Henri Désiré (French, 1800 – 1867); Pontenier, Auguste [Etienne, François] (French, 1820 – 1888); Rose, Alphonse Antoine (French, fl. 1840 – 1860); Timms, J. (English-French, fl. c. 1839 – 1865); Verdeil, Pierre (French, 1812 – 1874); Vien, Alphonse Jean-Baptiste (French, b. 1814).
  • Front wrapper: LES MŒURS DU SIECLE - № 1 | Les | six étages | par | GERARD BAUER | illustré de vingt gravures à l’eau-forte | par VERTÈS | {publisher’s device, “PARIS | 17, avenue de Friedland”} | ÉDITIONS DE L’ÉTOILE || Title-page: essais pour servir a1 l’histoire contemporaine | de la galanterie et du plaisir | I | Les six étages | par | GERARD BAUER | illustré de vingt gravures à l’eau-forte | par VERTÈS | | {publisher’s device, “ÉDITIONS DE L’ÉTOILE | 17, avenue de Friedland”} | PARIS […] MCMXXV || Pagination: front wrapper with lettering, [1-8] incl. 1st bank leaf, h.t. / limitation, t.p. / blank, dedication to Abel Hermant / blank, 9-169 [170] [6] incl. table, colophon, and last blank leaf, 17 etchings by Vertès within pagination; advert. of the other books of the series to the back wrapper. Edition: 15 copies on Japon Impérial (№ 1-15), 35 on Hollande Van Gelder Zonen (№ 16-50), 400 on Vélin de Rives BFK (№ 51-450) and 3 on blue paper not for sale. This copy is № 369. Printed on November 10, 1925 by L. Petitbarat in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône (text) and by Vernant in Paris (etchings). Edition directed by Roger Allard. Binding: 19 x 12.5 cm, French flapped pink wrappers, lettered to front, back, and spine. Contributors: Gérard Bauër (French, 1888 – 1967) – author. Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist. Abel Hermant (French, 1862 – 1950) – dedicatee. Roger Allard (French, 1885 – 1961) – editor. L. Petitbarat (Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône) – printer. Éditions de l’Étoile (Paris) – publisher. Other names: Marcel Vertès, Marcel Vertes, Marcell Vértes
  • Description: One volume, publisher’s original tan French flapped wrappers with engraved vignette, in glassine DJ, unbound, 25.5 x 19.5 cm, collated in-4to, bottom and outer margins untrimmed, some pages uncut, printed on laid watermarked Van Gelder Zonen paper, illustrated with 15 full-page drypoint plates, some with tissue guard; front wrapper, t.p. and table vignettes, numerous head- and tailpieces by R. Lacourière after drawings by Marcel Vertès, enriched with two cancelled images printed on different laid papers in different states, three of each image. Printed on June 10, 1926 by Coulouma (Argenteuil) under the direction of H. Barthélemy, drypoints by Roger Lacourière (Paris). Limitation: 95 copies of which № 1 on Japon Ancien, № №  2-26 on Japon Impérial, and №№ 27-95 on Hollande. This is copy № 78. Front wrapper: FRANCIS CARCO | L'AMOUR | VÉNAL | {vignette with inscription in oval tablet «POINTES | SÈCHES | DE» } | VERTÈS | PARIS | MCMXXVI || Title-page: FRANCIS CARCO | L'AMOUR | VÉNAL | {vignette} | POINTES SÈCHES DE | VERTÈS | PARIS | MCMXXVI || Collation: 2 leaves in wrapper, π4 (fac-simile of Carco a.l.s., h.t., t.p., authorship) a4 (preface), 1-164 [17]4, 2 leaves in wrapper; total without the wrapper 76 leaves plus 15 plates, plus 6 plates of enrichment plates. Pagination: [8] [i] [ii-viii] [1] 2-128 [8], total 152 pages, ils. Note: The edition is not in Dutel, not in Pia (Enfer); Fekete (2014): № 215, p. 117; Vokaer (1967): № 15, p.10. According to both sources, it is a 2-volume edition, with text in vol. 1 and plates in vol. 2. Vokaer attributes publishing to La Roseraie (Paris) and provides for 45 drypoints of which 18 full-page plates in the second volume. Fekete (Christie’s) provides for 15 full-page plates and 25 illustrations in text. Contributors: Francis Carco [François Carcopino-Tusoli] (French, 1886 – 1958) – author. Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist. Roger Lacourière (French, 1892 – 1966) – engraver, printer.
  • Reprint. Originally published in four volumes in Paris by Perrin, 1882-1890, limited edition of 550 copies: 50 exemplaires sur papier de Holland (nos. 1 à 50) 500 exemplaires sur papier vélin (nos. 51 à 550). Two volumes (992 and 1,056 pp.), 23.8 x 16.3 x 6 cm each, in black buckram, gilt lettering in a double fillet frame to spine: “VOLTAIRE | Bibliographie | De Ses | Oeuvres | X X | BENGESCO | Volumes | I & II (III & IV) | {publisher’s device} || pp: (1) [i-ix] x-xix [xx] [1] 2-494; (2) [12] [i] ii-xviii [1] 2-438 [10]; (3)[6] [i] ii-xv, [1] 2-609 [3] + one folding plate; (4) [8] [i] ii-xxii [2] [1] 2-391 [392]. Title-page: VOLTAIRE | — | BIBLIOGRAPHIE DE SES ŒUVRES | PAR | GEORGES BENGESCO | TOME PREMIER (DEUXIÈME; TROISIÈME; QUATRIÈME) | COURONNÉ PAR L’ACADEMIE FRANÇAISE | {piblisher’s device} | Martino Publishing | Mansfield Centre, CT | 2006 || In the original t.p. BIBLIOGRAPHIE DE SES ŒUVRES and GEORGES BENGESCO printed in red, after the publisher’s device: PARIS | ÉD. ROUVIERE & G. BLOND | ÉDITEURS | 98 RUE DE RICHELIEU 98 | 1882 (etc.) || Contents: — T.1. Théâtre. Poésies. Grands ouvrages historiques. Dictionnaire philosophique et questions sur l'Encyclopédie. Romans. — T. 2. Mélanges. Ouvrages édités par Voltaire. Ouvrages annotés par Voltaire. — T. 3. Correspondance. Cent lettres de Voltaire qui ne figurent dans aucune édition de ses œuvres et suivi du réperoire chronologique de sa correspondance de 1711 à 1778, avec l'indication des principales sources de chaque lettre." — T.4. Œuvres complètes de Voltaire. Principaux extraits de Voltaire. Ouvrages faussement attribués à Voltaire Georges Bengesco [Gheorghe Bengescu] (Romanian, 1848 – 1922) François-Marie Arouet [Voltaire] (French, 1694 – 1778)
  • Description: Softcover, original blue-grey wrappers, maroon fleuron to front wrapper « P.L. {copulating couple} 1897.  », 28.5 x 23 cm, in a grey double slipcase. Pp.: [1-10] 11-192 [2] [6 blanks], total 200 pages, 50 folio leaves folded in half collated in 4to, unbound, plus 16 coloured lithographs by Jean Berque; all printed on wove paper watermarked “LANA”. This is № 207 of an undisclosed number of copies. Edition enriched with a suite of 12 hand-coloured etchings after Éduard Chimot for publication in the late 1940s (Dutel 2524) on BFK Rives paper. Title-page (maroon and black): P. L. | TROIS | FILLES | DE LEUR | MÈRE | {fleuron} | A L'ENSEIGNE DU CHAT POUR CHAT | M DCCC XCVII || Catalogue raisonné: Dutel 2523, Pia 1340. Contributors: Pierre Louÿs (French, 1870 – 1925) – author. Jean Berque (French, 1896 – 1954) – artist. Édouard Chimot (French, 1880 – 1959) – artist.
  • Binding: Hardcover, 25.5 x 17.8 x 4.7 cm, collated 4to, ¾ brown crushed morocco, bordered with gilt double fillet, raised bands, gilt fleurons in compartments, gelt lettering, marbled endpapers, top margin gilt; text printed on laid paper; frontis. on wove paper. Title-page: L'OEUVRE | DE | MOREAU LE JEUNE | — | CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ ET DESCRIPTIF | AVEC NOTES ICONOGRAPHIQUES ET BIBLIOGRAPHIQUES | PAR | M.- J.- F. MAHÉRAULT | ANCIEN CONSEILLER D’ÉTAT | ORNÉ D’UN PORTRAIT DE L’AUTEUR PAR LE RAT | ET PRÉCÉDÉ D’UNE NOTICE BIOGRAPHIQUE | PAR | Émile de Najac | {publisher’s device} | PARIS | ADOLPHE LABITTE | LIBRAIRE DE LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE | 4, RUE DE LILLE, 4 | – | 1880 || Collation: ffl, π2 (h.t., t.p.), a4 b2 1-674 682, 4ffl; total 278 leaves within flyleaves plus engraved frontispiece portrait of M.-J.-F. Mahérault by Paul Edme Le Rat w/tissue guard. Pagination: [4] [i] ii-xi [xii blank], [1] 2-538 (with page 538 erroneously numbered 568) [2 colophon/blank]; total 556 pages, ils. Contributors: Jean Michel Moreau [Moreau le Jeune] (French, 1741 – 1814) – artist, character. Marie Joseph François Mahérault (French, (1795 – 1879) – author, text. Comte Émile de Najac (French, 1828 – 1889) – author, biography. Paul-Edme Le Rat (French, 1849 – 1892) – artist, engraver. Adolphe Labitte (French, 1832 – 1882) – publisher. Georges Chamerot (French, 1845 – 1922) – printer.