Les Historiettes de Tallemant des Reaux. Troisieme Edition Entierement Revue sur le Manuscrit Original et Disposee Dans un Nouvel Ordre par MM. De Monmerque et Paulin Paris. Paris: J. Techener, 1854-1860, t.e.g., 4to.
A BEAUTIFUL FINELY BOUND SET OF THE BEST EDITION OF TALLEMANT'S HISTORIETTES, A COLLECTION OF BIOGRAPHIES OF IMPORTANT FIGURES IN FRANCE.
A RARE LARGE PAPER COPY WITH THE ORIGINAL COVERS BOUND IN AT THE REAR. FINELY BOUND IN HALF RED MOROCCO BY ZAEHNSDORF.
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The third edition, and the best edition according to scholars, of Tallemant's Historiettes. Bourgeois and Andre write "3rd edition, the best; the first giving the full text without any deletion" [793]. In the Dictionary of French Letters we also find extensive reference to this set: "The Historiettes are worth much more than their mediocre reputation... Historians who have studied the lives of the characters of whom Tallemant has drawn such vivid portraits have all noted that the documents of archives confirmed his statements down to the smallest details. His testimony of his time is therefore of great value; it would be added that his qualities as a writer will always attract readers. He rounds the anecdote with naturalness. His work has the variety and the very movement of life. Reading it, we always learn and will never be bored" [pp.972]. These quotes have been translated here from the original French.
Tallemant discusses figures such as Henry IV, Louis XIII, Henry Jules de Bourbon-Condé, and paints portraits of writers like Vincent Voiture, Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac, François de Malherbe, Paul Scarron, Jean de La Fontaine, Blaise Pascal, Pierre Corneille, Georges de Scudéry and Madeleine de Scudéry, Madeleine de Sablé, Madame de Sévigné, and Racan. He also delves into political personalities like Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu, celebrities like the actor Mondory, and scandalous courtesans like Marion Delorme, Ninon de Lenclos, and Angélique Paulet.
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Size: 167 x 242 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[xxx, i, 512pp, i (errata), i]; [iv, 550pp, i, i]; [iv, 506pp, i]; [iv, 542pp, i]; [iv, 542pp, foldout, i]; [iv, 539pp, i]; [iv, 569pp, i]; [iv, cccxvii, 272pp, i, i]; [iv, xxiv, 548pp, i, i]
Uniform half red morocco over red cloth backed boards with gilt designs in between raised bands with titles lettered in gilt in compartments and gilt dates to the foot. Uniformly bound by the legendary binder Zaehnsdorf for C.H. Buckland, Knightsbridge (London) with each binding signed to the ffep. A little discolouration to spines, most prominent to the fifth volume, else the spines show as near fine and are very attractive indeed on the shelf. All boards securely attached with joints occasionally a little rubbed but with most fine. Some light shelf wear and the odd bump to the edges of boards. Top edges gilt. Some boards rubbed with a little loss to cloth but the majority very good or better. A little foxing to endpapers and page edges, visible when edges are spread apart else generally very clean through the text blocks. Page edges uncut with original paper cover bound in to the rear of each volume backed on to a blank.
[Bourgeois & Andre, 793]
