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Description
[LITERATURE]
TAILLEFER (Antoine).
A Historical Survey of the Mind and Character of French Men of Letters from the Renaissance of the Arts to 1785, or A Collection of Witty Remarks, Bon Mots and Literary Anecdotes.
Versailles, Poinçot, Paris, Nyon.
4 volumes in 8°. Full contemporary binding in marbled sheepskin. Smooth spine, decorated with gilt metal tools and gilt fillets. Title labels in red morocco. Marbled edges. A few small areas of leather loss on the covers.
Volume I: 2 folios, 16 pages, 398 pages.
Volume II: 2 folios, 400 pages.
Volume III: 2 folios, 397 pages.
Volume 4: 2 ff., 403 pp.
First edition. Before the Revolution, Antoine Taillefer was Treasurer of War, then mayor of Villieu-le-Tilleul in the Ardennes.
‘Anecdotes on French Writers from Villon to Diderot.’ ‘We did not seek glory in publishing the fruit of our leisure; we are well aware of the scant regard in which compilers are held.’
Taillefer drew on a wide range of sources, and his anecdotes are entertaining. Another merit is that, alongside the very famous authors, he also includes lesser-known figures, humanists and somewhat forgotten poets such as Marc-Antoine Muret, Pierre de Montmaur, Lingendes, Claude Quillet, Guillaume Bautru, Denis de Sallo, etc...
See original version (French)
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About the sale
Bibliophilia – A fine selection of antique and modern books
Auction location
Auction time
10/15/2026 at 1:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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