Sevigne, Madame de

[Woman Author]. Collection de vingt portraits du siècle de Louis XIV que l'on peut joindre à la nouvelle édition des Lettres de Madame De Sévigné imprimées par P. Didot, l'aine

Paris: J.J. Blaise, 1818. 8vo. 20 ff. + 20 full-page engravings. Contemporary French emerald-green glazed boards, red morocco spine label (trifle rubbed). Very good. Item #3577

PRINTED BY PIERRE DIDOT L'AINE (1761-1853). "Pierre published acclaimed editions of Virgil, Horace, La Fontaine, and Racine. Firmin designed the Didot typeface. He also invented stereotypes (plates cast from printing surfaces) and was thus able to publish low-priced editions of French, Italian, and English books. Napoleon appointed him director of the imperial foundry, a position he held until his death." (E-B).

Multiple artists were entrusted to create the twenty extremely delicate engravings; some were executed by Claude Marie Francois Dien (1787-1865); others are signed "S.D. fecit," "C.A." and other engravers who have not yet been identified. There are portraits by Marie Therese of Austria, Marie de Savoie, Louis "Dauphin," the Duc de Montmorency, Comte de Grignan, and other notables of the day. Each portrait is accompanied by a brief letterpress biography by Madame de Sevigne.

Very good, unsophisticated copy in original glazed boards.

Price: $150.00