(AUCTION CATALOGUE: GOUTTARD).

Catalogue des Livres Rares et Précieux de feu M. Gouttard,

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par Guillaume De Bure… xvi, 246 pp. 8vo (215 x 130 mm.), bound ca. 1781 by Nicolas-Denis Derome, “le Jeune,” for Simon Pierre Mérard de Saint-Just in emerald-green morocco, triple gilt fillets round sides, flat spine richly gilt in six compartments, the second lettered with the title, the others with a large central flower surrounded by small stars & leafy tools in corners, narrow inside gilt borders, marbled paper liners & endleaves, a.e.g. Paris: G. de Bure, 1780. The splendid large paper copy, bound by Derome in green morocco for Mérard de Saint-Just, of one of the great sales of the 18th century. Gouttard’s collection was rich in first editions of classical literature and history and many of the books were on large paper or vellum and in the finest possible condition. Renouard said of Gouttard that he was “un des amateurs françois qui a mis le plus séverité dans son goût pour les livres, et dans la choix des exemplaires.” There is a biographical sketch of Gouttard serving as the Preface in which it is noted that Gouttard edited texts of Horace and Virgil. The sale, according to the full-page signed note by Mérard de Saint-Just, dated immediately after the sale, 24 March 1781, on the verso of the half-title, “doit faire époque dans l’histoire de la Bibliographie. Les livres ont été porté à un tel prix par les acquéreurs, qu’il n’y a pas encore eu d’examples d’une pareille folie dans ce genre de luxe.” This did not prevent him from attending all the sessions and acquiring twenty-seven lots (nos. 24, 25, 49, 83, 91, 97, 98, 158, 352, 685, 686, 751, 752, 754, 794, 849, 976, 1098, 1293, 1313, 1314, 1535, 1538, 1540, 1546, and 1549). He also added to certain lots the names of those buyers whom he knew personally, such as the Comte d’Artois, d’Hangard, Le Camus de Limare, Loliée, Gouttard de Le Veville, “héritier du mort, dont on vendait cette bibliothèque” (lot 313, against Mérard), Anisson du Perron fils, Naigéon, le Président de Saint-Fargeau, Pâris de Préfond, and the booksellers Bailli, Henri, Janetus, Tillard and Ysquerdo (buying for the King of Spain). Mérard identifies the author of the introductory “Précis sur la Vie et la Bibliothèque de M. Gouttard” as “M. Naigéon, compagnon de la Boutique philosophique de Mr. Diderot,” i.e. the philosopher and book collector Jacques-André Naigéon (1738-1810), who bought several lots at the Gouttard sale. Mérard also adds several notes to Naigéon’s article, disparaging Gouttard’s knowledge of the ancient languages. De Bure’s catalogue is an excellent compilation, with extensive notes to many of the lots. Very little is known about Gouttard, not even his first name, apart from Naigéon’s statement that he had inherited wealth and died at the age of fifty-four from a disease of the chest. This copy is described in Mérard’s privately printed catalogue (1783) under no. 494: “grand papier fort, mar. vert, reliure de de Rome, le jeune, 18 liv.” It was later in the Pixéricourt collection (sale catalogue, 1838, lot 2206); E. Solacroup (initials “SS” in gilt on verso of front endpaper), Maurice Escoffier (with bookplate, no. 199 in Description, 1935), and A.L. McLaughlin (bookplate). Lacking the very rare 4-page schedule of the sale. Preserved in a box. ❧ Grolier Club, Printed Catalogues of French Book Auctions...1643-1830, 291. Peignot, p. 101–“Belle collection de classiques: ce catalogue n’est pas commun.” Pollard & Ehrman no. 296 (ordinary copy & unpriced). Taylor, Book Catalogues, p. 243.

• USD 23,500.00 > otras divisas
• nº de pedido: HillBibl-2060

• librero: Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. (USA)