Jules de Liron d'Airoles | Album de la Civélière, 1855, the Royal dedication copy to the comte d'Chambord

Jules de Liron d'Airoles

Album de la Civélière, contenant les figures et descriptions des principales introductions agrico-horticoles qui y on été faites depuis l’année 1851. Brussels: F. Parent, 1855

FIRST EDITION, large 4to (365 x 280mm.), half-title, additional pictorial lithographed title, dedication (to the comte de Chambord, see below), 29 hand-coloured lithographed plates, original wrappers, loosely inserted into a morocco folder lettered in gilt on the upper cover, wrappers with wear to spine, some leaves coming loose

THE DEDICATION COPY of this extremely rare and attractive work on horticulture. According to Barbier ONLY 20 COPIES WERE ISSUED, and “le nombre des pl[anches] n’est pas le meme dans tous les examplaires. Celui de la bibliotheque de Nantes se compose de 22 pl[anches]… Il n’a paru que le T[om] I”. However, the Plesch copy does contain a second volume, though it seems to be the sole copy recorded. La Civélière is the name of the farm and nursery near Nantes where the plants were raised.

LITERATURE:

Barbier 1:90; Plesch 313

PROVENANCE:

Henri Dieudonné d’Artois, comte de Chambord, nominally Duke of Bordeaux and Henry V of France (1820—1883); Maggs Bros (book label noting acquisition) 

The comte de Chambord was the grandson of Charles X of France, and son of the assassinated duc and duchesse de Berry. After his grandfather's expulsion from France in 1830 he initially lived with his aunt Marie Therese, duchesse d' Angoulême, the only surviving child of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. They lived peripatetic lives, finally settling at Schloss Frohsdorf in Austria, which she left him in her will. He died there in 1883, the last Bourbon of the main line. See also lots 271 and 334.