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Paris: Chez le dit Huquier, rue des Mathurins au coin de celle de Sorbonne, (1768). Half calf, 10.25 inches tall, 6 inches deep (26cm x 21cm). A splendid example of a very rare book in a neat half calf with label and gilt pallets, speckled pink edges and vellum (recycled manuscript fragments) corners. The margins are exceptionally wide. The plates are lettered and numbered A1-12, B1-12 etc. to S1-12 , there is no J1-12) and in this example the last two leaves S11 and S12 are lacking, they do not appear to have ever been bound in, so we have 214 of 216 plates. Copac records only one copy in the UK (in the Royal Academy of Arts).

Paris: Libraires Associes, 1770 - 1771. 3 volume set, 11.75 inches tall. A splendid set in full cat's paw calf with raised bands, twin labels and floral gilt tooling to the panels. With all 100 engraved plates, mostly folding. An interesting work covering civil, military and naval architecture. A very good looking set. With a small stamp on the title pages and small ticket of 'Domus Aquensis Societatis Jesu' on the pastedown endpapers. In the original French.

(Paris: Barbou) Amsterdam, 1762. 2 volume set, 7 inches tall. The celebrated and very scarce Fermiers-Generaux edition. Complete with half-titles, 2 engraved portraits and 80 superb plates after Eisen by Aliamet, Delafosse, Longueil, Le Mire et al.. with over 50 delightful and ornate vignettes by Choffar. The later binding is by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in the style of the period with gilt raised bands, extra floral gilt tooling to the panels, fine and ornate gilt tooling to the boards, gilt dentelles and all edges. The bindings have been expertly rebacked. Internally exceptionally clean and fresh with slight creasing to a couple of plates. A fine set of this great example of French 18th century printing.

Paris: L’auteur des Estampes, 1786-1793. 3 volume set, 12 inches tall. An old tipped in catalogue entry attributes this magnificent binding to Charles Lewis. With wide gilt raised bands, delicate and ornate gilt tooling to the panels, twin labels, dentelles and all edges gilt. Complete with 3 engraved title pages, portrait and 73 engraved plates after Le Barbier. There are an extra 18 stipple engraved plates and 70 highly decorative vignettes. Some speckling and scuffing to the boards. A super copy of this beautiful 18th century deluxe edition.

Paris: KELLERHOVEN Franz, 1860. Full morocco, 12 inches tall. A remarkable full morocco binding with gilt raised bands and sumptuous gilt tooling to the panels and to the boards framing the gilt coat of arms of Pope Pius IX. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Frontispiece and a further 21 splendid full page chromolithographs. The text is embellished with elaborate borders. Dedication page by Pius IX. With the bookplate of the Sienna Convent Drogheda and a presentation page to the Convent from Maria, Countess of Lavradio, Lisbon. Light foxing. A magnificent volume, internally and externally.

Paris: Chez L'Auteur, 1786-1803. 20 volume set, 6.75 inches tall. A rare set in a fine binding with gilt bands, twin labels and dense gilt tooling to the panels. The tree calf of the panels in framed within gilt rolls. Red speckled edges. The first volume is a second issue the remaining volumes all first. A fascinating and terrifying collection of trials from ancient times but with a great emphasis on those executed in the French Revolution, the last two unfortunates being Marie-Antoinette and her sister in law Elizabeth. A rare item in superb condition.

Paris: De l'Imprimerie de Fr. Ambr. Didot l'Ainé, 1783. 2 volume set, 12 inches tall. A magnificently bound set with raised bands, fillets, dentelles and all edges gilt. Celebrated edition of just 200 copies. Some ink staining to the lower board of volume 1, otherwise in excellent condition. Armorial bookplate and the tiny stamp of Selbourn Library to the reverse of the title page.

Paris: Javal et Bourdeaux, 1933. Boxed glassine wrapped volume, total height 14 inches. 60 numbered copies were printed on velin d'Arches and 13 lettered. This copy is an 'Exemplaire imprime specialement pour un collaborateaur'.With 12 colour plates by BELTRAN MASSES, in 2 states, colour and monochrome. Our photographs are somewhat washed out and don't show the dark richness of the actual plates.The wooden box is leather bound with gilt titles, and heavily padded and lined with watered silk. I believe this was the publisher's copy. The box is slightly rubbed but in excellent condition and fully functioning. The glassine wrapper has some tears and has been crudely repaired.There is some foxing, particularly to the preliminaries.A unique copy of a very scarce volume.

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, et Orme, 1809. 4 volume set, 11 inches tall. A magnificent crushed and straight grain morocco with triple gilt and blind tooled raised bands and dense gilt tooling to the panels. The boards have a central straight grain panel framed by very fine and elaborate gilt and blind tooling. Gilt dentelles and all edges. Large Paper deluxe edition with india proof impressions of the plates by Smirke. Offsetting from the plates, otherwise clean. The armorial bookplate of William Strahan. Some rubbing and scuffing to the edges but with no splitting or loss. An exceptionally impressive example of this celebrated edition. In the original French.

Paris: Hetzel, 1845 - 1846. 2 volume set, 10.5 inches tall. A stunning full cat's paw calf by Clarke & Bedford, one of the finest London binders of the period in pristine condition. With gilt raised bands, delightful labels and superb gilt tooling to the panels. With gilt dentelles and all edges. Armorial bookplate. Does not include the Plan of Paris reserved for subscriber's copies only. Embellished with superb engravings and vignettes throughout.

Paris: Paulin, 1845. 4 volumes bound in 2, 10.5 inches tall. A stunning full cat's paw calf by Clarke & Bedford, one of the finest London binders of the period in pristine condition. With gilt raised bands, delightful labels and superb gilt tooling to the panels. With gilt dentelles and all edges. Armorial bookplate. 83 wood-engraved plates, all but 13 by Gavarni, 1 folding map and around 600 engraved vignettes. A celebrated edition in a stunning binding. In the original French.

Paris: Javal et Bourdeaux, 1928 & 1929. 3 volumes in paper and glassine wraps housed in 2 boxes, 14 inches tall. Number 26 of 60 copies on 'Japon Imperial'. With 30 plates by Jean Oberlé in two states and with an ORIGINAL watercolour. In an extra suite are 60 etchings by Louise Ibels, all signed and a further ORIGINAL watercolour. The two wooden boxes are leather bound with gilt titles, and heavily padded and lined with watered silk. The title page is dated 1928 whereas the wrapper is dated 1929. I believe these were publisher's copies. The boxes are slightly rubbed but fully functioning, the contents are pristine.

Paris: Javal et Bourdeaux, 1931. Text and 2 extra suites housed in 2 boxes, 14 inches tall. Number 23 of 60 copies on 'Japon Imperial'. With 30 colour plates by Dignimont in the main text. With a further suite of his illustrations in monochrome. There is also an ORIGINAL watercolour by Dignimont. With a further suite of 30 original etchings by Courbouleix, each is in 2 states, monochrome and sepia. The 30 sepia etchings are all numbered and signed. The two wooden boxes are leather bound with gilt titles, and heavily padded and lined with watered silk. I believe these were publisher's copies. The boxes are slightly rubbed and the main box lacks a popper, but they both still function., the contents are pristine. A unique set.

Paris: Charles Antoine Jombert, 1752. Full calf, 10 inches tall. A superb 18th century full mottled calf with gilt raised bands, olive label and floral gilt tooling to the panels. Red edges. Bookplate. Some creasing to the shoulders but no actual splitting. A few minor and superficial pink patches on the calf but overall a splendid copy of this great book. The first edition of this landmark work on naval architecture, 'the first training manual for aspiring naval constructors ever produced'. Complete with all 25 engraved plates and the delightful engraved chapter heads by Nicolas Ozanne. In the original French.

Paris: Chez Sylvian Sauvage, 1927. Half morocco, 9.5 inches tall. with raised bands and fine gilt tooling with onlays, gilt top edge. This is example V of XX lettered 'examplaires de collaboration'. With splendid illustrations by Andre Dignimont including an original watercolour signed and inscribed to Pierre Macorlan, the celebrated french novelist and songwriter.