Guillaume Debure (1731-82) - photo 1
Guillaume Debure (1731-82) - photo 2
Guillaume Debure (1731-82) - photo 3
Guillaume Debure (1731-82) - photo 4
Guillaume Debure (1731-82) - photo 5

Guillaume Debure (1731-82)

Lot 175
09.12.2020 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 40 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 470086
Lot 175 | Guillaume Debure (1731-82)
Estimate value
£ 40 000 – 60 000
Guillaume Debure (1731-82)

Bibliographie instructive 1782

DEBURE, Guillaume-François (1731-82). Bibliographie instructive: ou traité de la connoissance des livres rares et singuliers. Paris: Didot for Debure le Jeune, 1763-69 [tome dixième: Demonville for Goguée & Née de la Rochelle, 1782].



Superb complete set of the large-paper issue, limited to 50 copies only, of the Bible of 'haute bibliophilie'. More than any other book, catalogue, or event, it is seen by historians as codifying the transition from Gabriel Naudé's universal library of best books to the world of rare books. Its continuing influence today, albeit indirect, is real. The condition of the Mackenzie-Kann-Escoffier-Breslauer set embodies several of the work's essential concepts: special paper (large throughout, blue in the final volume), rarity (50 copies issued), fine binding (gold-tooled morocco), significant provenance (Mackenzie, Goldschmid, Kann, Escoffier, and Breslauer). The work is strictly complete in nine volumes, the 2-volume Gaignat sale catalogue being expressly intended as a supplement; from the beginning, however, booksellers, collectors, and Debure himself have added the 2-volume catalogue of the first La Vallière auction, because in order to prepare it he had had to interrupt his work. The final volume, designated tome dixième, appeared from a different source after the work had already established itself as the classic guide, in the year of Debure's death. A 1787 calf-bound manuscript record of prices for books discussed by Debure, which were realized in 34 major sales between 1707 (Jean Giraud) and 1784 (La Vallière), has been added to the lot as a demonstration of the canonical status of Bibliographie instructive. A list of the volume titles is available on request.



12 volumes, quarto (218 x 166mm), tome dixième: large quarto (254 x 198mm). Uniformly bound in contemporary French gold-tooled red morocco, triple fillet on sides, raised bands on spines with floral tooling in compartments and lettering, roll-tooled turn-ins, marbled endpapers, gilt edges (tome dixième decorated with different tools to the same design, tiny repair to a few joints); modern folding cloth cases. Provenance: 18th-century French bookseller's price code in vol. 1 – John Whitefoord Mackenzie (1794-1884; armorial bookplate, sale Edinburgh, 5 April 1886, lot 2095, described as super extra gilt) – Edmund Marsden Goldsmid (1849-1894), bibliographer of Aldines and Elzeviers (bookplate) – Edouard Kann (Paris sale, Georges Andrieux expert, 14 November 1930, lot 58) – Maurice Escoffier (his mimeographed catalogue c. 1935, no. 37) – Bernard Breslauer (sale Christie’s, Bibliotheca Bibliographica Breslaueriana, 21 March 2005, lot 48).



CHEVALIER. Bibliographie instructive ou notice du prix ou ont été portés à diverses ventes les livres rares dont fait mention Guillaume-François de Bure le Jeune, libraire à Paris, quai des Augustins. Bibliothèque de Mr. le Bon. de Stonne, Capitaine au Regiment de Dauphiné. Fait à la plume par Chevalier à Montpellier 1787. Manuscript on wove paper, 290 pages, title-cartouche drawn in pen-and-ink. Octavo (195 x 120mm), original marbled calf gilt, gilt edges (repair to front joint); modern chemise and slipcase.

Auction house category:Books
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