LA CHAU (Géraud de), LE BLOND (Gaspard Michel). Description - Lot 116

LA CHAU (Géraud de), LE BLOND (Gaspard Michel). Description des principales pierres gravées du cabinet de S.A.S. Mgr le Duc d'Orléans, premier prince du sang. A Paris, chez les auteurs et Pissot, 1780-1784. 2 volumes in-folio, [16] f., 303 p. + [2] f., V p., [1] f., 215 p., [2] f., modern brown morocco, spine with 5 raised bands adorned with gilt roulette, title, tomaison, place and date gilt, small-ink decorated boxes, double framing of 3 gilt filets on the covers, central medallion and 4 angular fleurons, all gilt, remains of green paint on some parts, gilt roulette on the spines and edges of the counterplates, gilt head, untrimmed (spines a little faded, slight rubbing to the spines and headpieces). Unique edition of this splendid work describing and depicting the engraved stones from the famous collection of Duke Louis Philippe d'Orléans. It is illustrated with a frontispiece designed by Cochin, engraved by Saint-Aubin, containing a medallion portrait of the Duc d'Orléans; a fleuron repeated in the titles, 2 vignettes, 180 plates of stones engraved by Saint-Aubin, 55 culs-de-lampe. Cohen (542-543) indicates only 179 plates, the 180 in this copy are numbered 1-97 and 35 bis, 35 ter, 39 bis, 39 ter, 78 bis, then 1-76, and 2 bis. Printed on Hollande laid paper. A fine copy with wide margins (h = 335 mm) and a highly decorative binding evoking the 18th century. Provenance: Charles-Edouard Méwès, Alsatian architect, 1889-1968 (engraved bookplate and stamp repeated at foot of titles).