1 / 4
an old book with a gold emblem on it sitting on a white surfacean old book with a gold emblem on itan old book with a picture of a man and a woman on itan old book with a picture of a man handing something to a woman
Premium Maître Paul PASTAUD

1056 - MARMONTEL (Jean François). Belisaire. Paris, Merlin, 1767.
See original version (French)

Estimate €1,300 - €1,500
Sale commission
Description
MARMONTEL (Jean François). Belisaire. Paris, Merlin, 1767. In-8, green morocco, smooth spine richly decorated, triple gilt fillet framing the covers with gilt fleurons in the spandrels and gilt coats of arms at their centres, gilt fillet on the edges, gilt inner roll, gilt edges (contemporary binding). First edition printed on Holland paper. It is illustrated with a frontispiece and three separate engravings by Gravelot, engraved by Massard, Le Veau, Levasseur and Masquelier. This novel was deemed insipid and ponderous from a literary standpoint, but of the utmost interest from a philosophical and historical perspective. It is in *Bélisaire*, indeed—written by Marmontel to encourage Louis XV to conduct himself as a philosopher-king—that all the points of contention between Enlightenment philosophy and arbitrary power and fanaticism are concentrated. The chapter on civil tolerance sparked a fierce battle between the supporters of the Enlightenment and the defenders of the ruling regime. A fine copy in period morocco leather bearing the coat of arms of Marie-Anne Hardy du Plessis, wife of Antoine-Raymond-Jean-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine, Lieutenant-General of Police and later Minister of the Navy. O.H.R. pl. no. 75. It also bears the bookplate of Antoine de Sartine (1729–1801). O.H.R. pl. no. 74, plate no. 6
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
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
You may also like