Catalogue Des Livres.
Paris, J.-L. III Nyon 1782.
8vo (201 x 128 mm.). xvi, 434 [r. 432]p. Courtanvaux’s woodcut arms on the title.
Mid-19th-century brown cloth, gilt-lettered flat spine.
Only Edition, first issue, PRICED IN CONTEMPORARY MANUSCRIPT. NEARLY ONE THOUSAND LOTS — OVER A QUARTER OF THE LIBRARY — ARE DEDICATED TO GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL. Courtanvaux’s son, Charles-François-César, marquis de Montmirail (1734-64), began forming this collection as the basis for a comprehensive annotated bibliography of all known voyages. His untimely death left the project unfinished. His father continued adding to the library for nearly two decades, acquiring precious books in natural history, science and literature. This sale did not occur as advertised (beginning 4 March 1782) but was postponed for fifteen months and began 7 July 1783. (Nyon reissued these sheets with new preliminaries at that time.) Courtanvaux père was a wealthy military officer and scientist who built an observatory, experimented in chemistry and sponsored scientific travel. This copy does not have the separately published author index and printed price-list (the half-title, present here, would have served as a proof-of-purchase for these). In nice condition.
¶North, Printed Catalogues of French Book Auctions 295 & see 311 (both without the index); Blogie, Répertoire des catalogues de ventes II: 15 (without the index); Peignot, Répertoire bibliographique universel 92 “précieux”.
Price: $1,800.00