(AUCTION CATALOGUE: [CHARDIN, Charles]).

Catalogue des Livres rares et singuliers du Cabinet de M. Filheul, Précédé de quelques Eclaircissemens sur les Articles importans ou peu connus, & suivi d'une Table alphabétique des Auteurs.

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La Vente de ces Livres commencera le 3 Mai 1779… 2 p.l., lvi, 502 pp., 1 leaf. 8vo, cont. French red half-morocco & boards, flat spine charmingly gilt, with the tool of a harp in the center of the compartments, in the second compartment a green morocco lettering piece. Paris: Dessain, 1779. A most unusual copy of this handsomely printed sale catalogue; it is the first of several sales, here held under the maiden name of his wife “Filheul,” by which Chardin, one of the most important Parisian booksellers of his time, periodically disposed of a portion of his vast stock. We know of later sales in 1806, 1819 (in London), and 1824. This did not prevent Chardin from selling many rare books and MSS. directly to collectors throughout his career — the most outstanding was no doubt the Psalter of St. Louis which he sold to a Russian Grand Duke, and which Louis XVII acquired from him for the Bibliothèque Royale. The above catalogue, especially rich in early French books, is extremely well compiled and has been long held in high esteem. According to Longchamp, I, p. 496, La Vallière purchased heavily at this sale. One of the remarkable features of this catalogue is the large number of heterodox and politically subversive books betraying Chardin’s sympathies which, years later, made him an enthusiastic supporter of the Revolution: of 122 lots only the number is given and their authors and titles are indicated by dots. In our copy these have been supplied by Frédéric Lachèvre, the well-known bibliographer (d. ca. 1957) in his wonderfully neat and spidery hand, adding numerous notes to various other lots, derived from contemporary annotations in other copies of the catalogue at his disposal. Chardin was eulogized at length by Dibdin who had him portrayed by Lewis in his Tour in France and Germany, II, pp. 400-404. Fine and handsome copy with the bookplates of F. Lachèvre and A.L. McLaughlin. 2544 lots; priced throughout in a contemporary hand. ❧ Gustave Brunet, Dictionnaire de Bibliologie Catholique, col. 459–“Il s’y trouve un assez grand nombre de livres rares et singuliers.” Grolier Club, Printed Catalogues of French Book Auctions...1643-1830, 277. Peignot, p. 98–“Catalogue intéressant par le grand nombre d’articles précieux qu’il renferme.”

• USD 6,750.00 > autres monnaies
• Commande nro.: HillBibl-2085

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