MONICART, Jean-Baptiste de., ‘Versailles Immortalised’ or ‘The Speaking

Two parts in one large quarto volume, XIX-430-(1) pp and (5) ff., 456 pp., (4) ff., title in red and black. Contemporary fawn-coloured speckled sheepskin, ribbed spine, red edges (binding very rubbed with losses; some leaves slightly detached; a few folding plates with tears but no losses; some soiling and tarnished edges; the ff. slightly brittle, the first title page and a few preliminary folios are missing, the large fold-out map of Versailles is slightly soiled and has a tear). A rare work richly decorated with a great many black etchings, including fold-out plates, numerous reproductions of statues, and engraved headbands featuring portraits or allegorical figures. Of the nine volumes planned for this monumental celebration, only these two volumes were published, richly illustrated with works by Charles Le Brun, Cochin and Coypel, featuring views, statues and paintings, engraved by Aveline, Duflos, Flipart… A poetic and detailed description in free verse of the artistic and architectural wonders of the estate of Versailles and its surroundings. The number of plates varied from one copy to another. Handwritten ‘ex libris’ marks by Denis Carlier (dated 18 November 1845 at the top of the volume) in pen or pencil on a few pages. Cohen, 724.

Estimate:$199.63

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