J B de La Borde (1734-1794)

Lot 167
09.12.2020 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 8 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 470138
Lot 167 | J B de La Borde (1734-1794)
Estimate value
£ 8 000 – 12 000
J. B. de La Borde (1734-1794)

Choix de Chansons 1773

LA BORDE, Jean Benjamin de (1734-1794). Choix de Chansons mises en musique. Paris: de Lormel, 1773.



A magnificent set bound by Bradel, from the library of Prince C. Sczaniecki. It is celebrated as one of the most beautiful books of the 18th century, and its first volume especially is recognised as a masterpiece, owing to Moreau’s perfection in designing and engraving the plates. He ‘created an idealized world, extending from the countryside to the city, in which … every scene is entrancing’. After a falling-out between author and artist, the final volumes were illustrated by Le Barbier, Le Bouteux and Saint-Quentin. With the author portrait, often lacking; Ray seems to call – erroneously – for an additional frontispiece in vol. II. Cohen-de Ricci 538-8: Ray, French, 49.



4 volumes, large octavo (242 x 160mm). Engraved throughout: engraved text and musical notation by Moria and Mlle. Vendôme, author portrait engraved by Masquelier after Denon dated 1774, engraved dedication leaf with arms of Marie-Antoinette by Masquelier after Moreau, 3 half-titles and 100 plates after Moreau, Le Bouteux, Le Barbier, and Saint-Quentin, engraved by Moreau, Masquelier, and Née. Contemporary French red morocco gilt by Bradel, with his ticket: triple filet on sides, smooth spines tooled with massed small tools and lyres, marbled endpapers, gilt edges; 20th-century green hard-grained morocco boxes and slipcases lined with yellow kidskin, Sczaniecki tooled on lower lip of slipcases. Provenance: Prince Sczaniecki (Bibliothèque d'un Amateur sale, Drouot, Paris 1974; armorial booklabel, slipcases, ‘CSS’ on final flyleaf).

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