Sully

1747 · réf. 178811 — London i.e. Paris 1747. An exceptional set Second de L'Ecluse edition extra-illustrated as often. With 72 portraits and 3 additional engravings this is the most extensively illustrated copy that we have traced in commerce historical auction records and reference works. Sully's Memoires was first published from 1638 to 1662. This is a reprint of the revised edition published by Pierre-Mathurin de L'Écluse des Loges in 1745 featuring the same text with altered title pages. Some copies of both the 1745 and 1747 de L'Ecluse editions were bound with a variable number of engraved portraits by Michel Odieuvre; Brunet calls for 58 portraits and Lowndes for 63. This set contains 70 portraits. Oudieuvre's suite was first published in 1738 without text and multiple times afterwards both by itself and to illustrate different works. This set is further expanded with two portraits by Jacques-Nicolas Tardieu and Paul Victor Mathey one illustration of an Egyptian obelisk after Jacob de Veert and two large folding plates depicting Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre and the assassination of Henry IV by Gaspar Bouttats. Maximilien de Béthune Duke de Sully 1560-1641 was one of the most powerful figures at the court of Henry IV serving as his personal counsellor superintendent of finances grand voyer and grand master of artillery. His memoires are a key source on Henry IV's reign covering the transition from the wars of religion towards royal stability under the Bourbons. 3 vols quarto 258 x 194 mm. Engraved frontispiece in vol. I 75 engraved plates 2 of which folding. Near-contemporary calf spine with raised bands floral and geometric gilt decoration in compartments red morocco labels covers bordered with gilt dentelle and floral rolls fleurons at corners board edges and turn-ins tooled in gilt marbled endpapers and edges green silk bookmarkers. Armorial bookplates of the Tollemache family; 20th-century bookplate of Robert J. Hayhurst Lancashire druggist and chemist on front free endpaper verso of vol. I. All joints and spine ends of vol I repaired partial loss to spine ends of vols. II and III corners worn covers marked and with spots of stripping initial blank in vol. III partly detached damp stain to outer margin of title page in vol. I occasional foxing or small mark slight offsetting from plates short closed tear to both folding plates at fold otherwise generally clean. A very good set. Brunet V 588-9. hardcover