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an old book with a picture of a man in a hat on itan old book sitting on top of a table next to a white wall
Maître Paul PASTAUD

892 - [The Necklace Affair]. Explanatory memoirs by the Countess o…
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Estimate €80 - €100
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Description
[The Necklace Affair]. Explanatory memoirs by the Countess of Valois de La Motte. Written by the author herself. London, n.p., 1789. In-12, soft binding in black half-percaline, spine with gold thread, gilt title (bound in the mid-19th century). Portrait of the author on the frontispiece. Browned paper, foxing. The Countess de La Motte is best known for her involvement in the Necklace Affair. Here she justifies her noble lineage as a descendant of an illegitimate son of Henry II and her relationship with Cardinal de Rohan. This ancestry was genuine, but the title of countess was a courtesy title… “These ‘justificatory memoirs’ were written by the Count de La Motte, his wife’s accomplice in the theft of the Queen’s necklace, with a view to exonerating her. De Feller describes it as a ‘heap of blatant lies and disgusting obscenities’. He also notes that this work was purchased by the Intendant of the Civil List, who had the edition destroyed. It was reprinted in Paris in 1793, in 2 vols. in-8, under the title ‘Life of Jeanne de Saint-Rémy, Countess de La Motte, written by herself, etc.’ An extremely rare copy of the first edition, which was destroyed.” JM. Bookplate of Roger-Léon Anisson-Duperron (with the motto ‘Anison che fiorische’). Bookplate J.M.
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About the sale MONTIGNAC – 31st BOOK SALE – Day 2 of 4 – Nos. 550 to 1084
Auction location
Auction time 08/20/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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