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)

Starting price
£ 40 000
Auction dateClassic
09.12.2020 00:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 470086
Lot 175 | Guillaume Debure (1731-82)
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
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2020 – 09.12.2020
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.