(AUCTION CATALOGUE: MÉNARS, Jean Jacques Charron, Marquis...

Bibliotheca Menarsiana, ou, Catalogue de la Bibliotheque de feu Messire Jean Jaques Charron, Chevalier Marquis de Menars...Augmentée & Embellie D'un grand nombre de Manuscrits, dont les uns sont considerables par leur Antiquité & Conservation, les autres par la delicatesse des Miniatures; Et outre cela enrichie De ce qu'il y a de recherché en Theologie, de curieux en Jurisprudence & en Philosophie, d'interessant & de beau en Histoire & en belles Lettres, & de ce qu'il y a de rares Editions parmi les Orateurs & Poetes. Le tout tres bien conditioné & quelques uns en grand Papier;

> cliquez ici pour voir l'image agrandie

Dont la Vente publique se fera par Abraham de Hondt, le 10. Juin & suiv. 1720. 3 p.l., 554 pp. Small 8vo, cont. English calf (upper joint a little cracked but strong, some foxing throughout), double gilt fillet round sides, spine nicely gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. The Hague: A. de Hondt, 1720. A lovely copy of this rare sale catalogue, describing an important portion of one of the greatest collections of the time. Ménars (1643-1718), who was councillor to the Paris Parlement and who held other high government offices, was one of the outstanding French bibliophiles of the period. Brother-in-law of Colbert, Ménars enriched his already considerable collection by acquiring the entire library of de Thou in 1679, minus a few lots which Bishop Huet and P.D. Verthamon had purchased on the first day of the sale. The poet Santeul was inspired to celebrate Ménars’s acquisition with his elegant elegy in Latin, published under the title Bibliotheca Thuana, nunc Menarsiana. The major part of de Thou’s library was sold by Ménars to Cardinal Rohan-Soubise in 1706, making a handsome profit. Upon the Cardinal’s death this portion of the library passed to the Prince de Soubise. The portion remaining in Ménars’s possession was still very rich in manuscripts, some illuminated, and in early printed books, foremost the 1462 Bible. Following his death, the books were inherited by Ménars’s two daughters who sold the collection to Dutch booksellers. They in turn transported the collection to The Hague and sold it off in the present catalogue through de Hondt, the most important Dutch auctioneer of his time. Apart from the light browning, which is present in most copies, a fine copy. 7651 lots. ❧ Gustave Brunet, Dictionnaire de Bibliologie Catholique, col. 596–“Belle collection en tout genre.” Guigard, II, pp. 125-26. Peignot, p. 113. Pollard & Ehrman, pp. 208, 211, & 221n. Taylor, Book Catalogues, pp. 20, 131, 151, & 252.

• USD 22,500.00 > autres monnaies
• Commande nro.: HillBibl-2067

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