[Livre de Fêtes]

[Livre de Fêtes]

Relation de l'arrivée du roi au Havre-de-Grace le 19 septembre 1749.

Paris, imprimerie d'Hippolyte-Louis Guérin & de Louis-François Delatour, 1753.

An attractive presentation copy of this festival book in a binding attributed to Guillaume Mercier and executed in the workshop of the King’s library. 

2° (628 x 465 mm). Red French morocco binding, wide gilt ornamented border with birds and grapes, small fleur-de-lys tool, gilt ornamented plaque in corners, with arms of Louis XV gilt in centre (OHR 2495, fer 10), spine elaborately gilt in compartments with crowned royal ciphers and small floral tooling (Attributed to Guillaume Mercier). 

Damp stains on two plates, paper yellowed. Binding restored. Marks on covers, corners rubbed, repairs to joints and spine, partially split joints.

First edition. 3 engraved vignettes, head- and tail-pieces by Slodtz, six double-page plates by Le Bas after Descamps.

The fête du Havre was celebrated in honour of Louis XV's visit after the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The king had wished to visit a French port and was shown the manoeuvres of the sails executed by four hundred sailors in uniform and the careening of a ship. The festivities ended with a sumptuous “naval battle” and illuminations of the city’s main avenue, beautifully rendered in the engraved plates.

Provenance

Sotheby's Paris, 18 juin 2008, lot 133.

Literature

Cohen 868.

Ruggieri, 581.

____________________________________________

[Livre de Fêtes]

Relation de l'arrivée du roi au Havre-de-Grace le 19 septembre 1749.

Paris, imprimerie d'Hippolyte-Louis Guérin & de Louis-François Delatour, 1753.

Somptueux livre de fêtes dans sa reliure de présent attribuable à Guillaume Mercier, exécutée dans l'atelier de la bibliothèque royale.

Provenance

Sotheby's Paris, 18 juin 2008, lot 133.

Bibliographie

Cohen 868.

Ruggieri, 581.