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five books that are sitting next to each other on a tablethe books are lined up in a row on a white surfacebooks are lined up in a row on a white surfacesix old books are lined up in a row on a white surfacean open book sitting on top of a table next to a stack of booksa black and white drawing of a man with a crown on his headportrait of a woman with a crown on her head in a framean engraving of a portrait of a man wearing a crownan old book with a picture of a man on a horse in front of a crowd of peoplean engraving of a portrait of a man with a bearda black and white drawing of a man with a beardan old map of the battle of the alam alaman old black and white drawing of a man holding a candlean old drawing of a horse drawn carriage being pulled by a manportrait of charles de secondau, engraved by jean de secondau, after a painting by jean de secondauan old book with a picture of a man riding a horsean old black and white illustration of a family in a living room
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132 - [PORTRAIT GALLERY]. VELLY (Paul-François). History of France…
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Estimate €600 - €800
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Description
[PORTRAIT GALLERY]. VELLY (Paul-François). History of France, from the establishment of the monarchy to the reign of Louis XIV. A collection of portraits of illustrious men. A superb collection of 777 engraved plates, the majority of which are portraits of the greatest figures in French history, from Pharamond to the reign of Louis XV, as well as several folding maps, in beautiful matching full morocco bindings of the period. Paris, Saillant & Nyon and Veuve Desaint (volumes 1 and 2), Nyon (volumes 3 to 8), 1778 (volumes 1 and 2), 1781 (Volumes 3 and 4) and 1786 (Volumes 6, 7 and 8). 8 volumes in-4 (200x250 mm), full red morocco, spine with guilloché raised bands, compartments decorated with gilt fleurons, midnight blue title and volume number labels, triple gilt fillet with angular fleurons framing the covers, interior frieze, marbled paper endpapers and linings, speckled edges (contemporary binding). Scuffs with slight losses of leather, a few scratches on the covers, rare and minimal wormholes, some corners slightly dented. A few minor foxing spots. A superb collection of portraits of illustrious men mentioned in the famous Histoire de France begun by Abbé Paul-François Velly and continued by Messrs Villaret and Garnier. There are a total of 777 finely engraved plates by various artists, comprising mainly portraits and a few fold-out battle plans, covering the history of France from Pharamond to the reign of Louis XV, with a short biographical note on the figure depicted opposite each plate. Details of the volumes: - Volume 13, Part Two, containing engraved portraits of the majority of the illustrious men mentioned in this History, from Pharamond to King John, comprising 99 engraved plates. - Volume 13, Part Three, containing engraved portraits of most of the illustrious men mentioned in this History, from Charles V to the reign of Henry II, comprising 101 engraved portraits. - Collection of Portraits of Illustrious Men, Volume III, covering the reigns of Henry II, Charles IX, Henry III, Henry IV and part of the reign of Louis XIII: 100 plates engraved as inserts, including numerous portraits and several fold-out battle plates. - Volume IV, covering the remainder of the reign of Louis XIII and part of the reign of Louis XIV: 100 engraved portraits as inserts. - Volume V, covering the remainder of the reign of Louis XIV and a supplement for various reigns: 99 engraved portraits and 1 map of the siege of Leiden - Volume VI, covering the remainder of the reign of Louis XIV and a supplement for various reigns: 1 allegorical frontispiece engraved by Marchand after Desrais and 83 engraved plates, including numerous portraits and several fold-out maps and plans. - Volume VII, covering the remainder of the reign of Louis XIV: 93 engraved plates, including several fold-out plans. - Volume VIII, covering the reign of Louis XV: 101 engraved portraits, including 1 fold-out. Richly illustrated with the most famous figures from French history, in elegant full morocco bindings of the period.
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About the sale Fine antique and collectible books, manuscripts and modern illustrated works
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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