Pontault, Sébastien de, seigneur de Beaulieu.

2 volumes, folio (480 x 351mm.), volume1: engraved title-page, engraved portrait of the author, engraved illustrated dedication, double-page engraved portrait, 7ff. manuscript index of locations for both volumes within ink borders (ink borders corroded), 104 engraved plates (portraits, maps, views and plans, some folding and/or double-page), a few portraits with replacement captions pasted on, 111ff. letterpress text in roman and italic type (one leaf duplicated) and 2ff. in manuscript, without frontispiece portrait of Louis in vol.1, lacking one leaf of italic text (end of "Description du passage des Rivieres de Segre"), lacking final plate ("Profil de la ville de Metz"); volume 2: engraved title-page, 101 engraved plates, 44ff. letterpress text, 18ff. manuscript text, many leaves with outer margins extended, lacking 3 text leaves ("La prise de la ville de Furnes"), contemporary marbled calf gilt, spines gilt in compartments, gilt edges, extremities rubbed, head of spine of volume 2 chipped, volume 2 slightly scraped, upper hinge of volume 2 split

"Pour M^r. ..Para, 1698", "A Monsieur Descartes Comm^e Ordonnateur 1734", inscription at head of title-page of volume I; Bibliothèque de la Malmaison, stamp on title-pages; Robert I, duke of Parma, armorial bookplates

Pastoreau, Les atlas français, Beaulieu XV; Shirley, Maps in the Atlases of the British Library T.BEAU-16a

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Pontault's magnificent work, assembled after his death by his niece Reine de Beaulieu, begins with the battle of Rocroi in 1643 and ends with the siege of Namur in 1692. Each copy contains a different collection of plates; for a detailed description of the BN and BL copies see Pastoreau, and a full listing of plates is available on request. This copy contains several portraits (mostly at the start of volume 1) and a large folding plate entitled "Bataille de la Marsaglie en Piedmont" towards the end of volume 2 which do not appear in Pastoreau's listing.

The plates were later used in the publication of the Cabinet du Roi from 1727 onwards and are now housed in the Louvre.