(AUCTION CATALOGUE: VERRUË, Jeanne Baptiste d'Albert de L...

Catalogue des Livres de feue Madame la Comtesse de Verruë, dont la Vente se fera en détail en son Hôtel, rue du Cherchemidy.

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Woodcut arms on title. 2 p.l., 240 pp. 8vo, cont. calf (minor rubbing to extremities, title a little foxed), spine richly gilt, morocco lettering piece on spine. Paris: G. Martin, 1737. The scarce sale catalogue of the library of one of the great woman book collectors, Jeanne Baptiste d’Albert de Luynes, Comtesse de Verruë (1670-1736), known as “la Dame de volupté.” Married at age 13, she is best remembered for her liaison with Victor-Amédée, Duke of Savoy, whose mistress she became. In 1700, she fled to Paris where she established herself as a leading member of the intellectual world. She formed a large collection of antiquities, art objects, and books. This catalogue, listing about 18,000 books, is based on the inventory made after the Comtesse’s death in November of 1736. There are only 389 lots but each contains many titles. Guigard (Vol. I, p. 206) describes her library as “surtout remarquable parmi tant de remarquables choses: un diamant serti d’or.” La Vallière acquired the works of drama and they are now at the Arsenal. Nice copy. Priced throughout in a contemporary hand. ❧ Bléchet, p. 95. Grolier Club, Printed Catalogues of French Book Auctions…1643-1830, 44. Peignot, p. 131. Pollard & Ehrman no. 275.

• USD 5,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: HillBibl-2092

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