Ian Ehling
Head of Department
Lot 194
SAINT-NON, JEAN-CLAUDE RICHARD, ABBÉ DE. 1727-1791. Voyage pittoresque ou description des royaumes de Naples et de Sicile. Paris: 1781-1786.
15 October 2021, 10:00 EDT
New YorkUS$40,000 - US$60,000
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SAINT-NON, JEAN-CLAUDE RICHARD, ABBÉ DE. 1727-1791.
Voyage pittoresque ou description des royaumes de Naples et de Sicile. Paris: 1781-1786.
4 volumes in 5. Folio (516 x 340 mm). Half-titles, vignette title engravings, 305 engraved leaves [Volume 1: engraved dedication leaf, 3 double-page engraved maps, 48 engraved plates); volume 2: double-page engraved map and 82 engraved plates (25 head- and tail-pieces printed in bistre and black); volume 3: 4 engraved folding maps (3 colored in outline) and 60 engraved plates; volume 4, part 1: 1 engraved folding map and 70 engraved plates; volume 4, part 2: 35 engraved plates, including 14 plates of medals]; engraved head- and tail-pieces. Contemporary morocco backed boards, leaves uncut, contemporary manuscript corrections to two text leaves, corner stained to approx 20 leaves in volume 2, occasional browning or staining.
WITH: Document Signed ("Laborde," "L'abbé d' Saint-Non," and "La Bretesche") being the original contract between Laborde and Saint-Non, 8 pp total, 330 x 215 mm, string-bound, Paris, August 5, 1777, with an added codicil dated March 31, 1778, signed beneath by Laborde, Saint-Non and La Bretesche, docketed to verso, "Convention entre L'abbé de Saint Non et B'in de la Borde en Rich'd de la Bretesche pour la publication Voyage Pittoresque a Naples et en Sicile."
Provenance: Purchased from Bernard Quaritch, London, 1988.
A FINE LARGE COPY, COMPLETE AND UNCUT, OF SAINT-NON'S CLASSIC, WITH THE ORIGINAL SIGNED CONTRACT FOR THE PUBLICATION. One of the most celebrated illustrated books of the 18th-century, Saint-Non's Voyage Pittoresque was published between 1781-1785, with the Livraisons containing the plates beginning as early as 1778. This fine copy, including the rarely found "phallus" plate in volume 2, is accompanied by the original contract between Saint-Non and his brother [Louis Richard de] La Bretesche, and Jean-Benjamin Laborde, the publisher who originally conceived of the project. In the original contract dated August 5, 1777, Saint-Non and his brother agree to invest 30,000 livres against the 30,000 livres already spent by Laborde. In the codicil, added the following year, Laborde admits he has only spent 10,000 livres and the terms are amended accordingly. The production, even under the amended terms, would ruin the wealthy Saint-Non. A fascinating look at the origins of "one of the monuments of 18th-century book production" (Blackmer 1473). Cohen-de Ricci 928-930; Millard French 148; Ray French 34.
4 volumes in 5. Folio (516 x 340 mm). Half-titles, vignette title engravings, 305 engraved leaves [Volume 1: engraved dedication leaf, 3 double-page engraved maps, 48 engraved plates); volume 2: double-page engraved map and 82 engraved plates (25 head- and tail-pieces printed in bistre and black); volume 3: 4 engraved folding maps (3 colored in outline) and 60 engraved plates; volume 4, part 1: 1 engraved folding map and 70 engraved plates; volume 4, part 2: 35 engraved plates, including 14 plates of medals]; engraved head- and tail-pieces. Contemporary morocco backed boards, leaves uncut, contemporary manuscript corrections to two text leaves, corner stained to approx 20 leaves in volume 2, occasional browning or staining.
WITH: Document Signed ("Laborde," "L'abbé d' Saint-Non," and "La Bretesche") being the original contract between Laborde and Saint-Non, 8 pp total, 330 x 215 mm, string-bound, Paris, August 5, 1777, with an added codicil dated March 31, 1778, signed beneath by Laborde, Saint-Non and La Bretesche, docketed to verso, "Convention entre L'abbé de Saint Non et B'in de la Borde en Rich'd de la Bretesche pour la publication Voyage Pittoresque a Naples et en Sicile."
Provenance: Purchased from Bernard Quaritch, London, 1988.
A FINE LARGE COPY, COMPLETE AND UNCUT, OF SAINT-NON'S CLASSIC, WITH THE ORIGINAL SIGNED CONTRACT FOR THE PUBLICATION. One of the most celebrated illustrated books of the 18th-century, Saint-Non's Voyage Pittoresque was published between 1781-1785, with the Livraisons containing the plates beginning as early as 1778. This fine copy, including the rarely found "phallus" plate in volume 2, is accompanied by the original contract between Saint-Non and his brother [Louis Richard de] La Bretesche, and Jean-Benjamin Laborde, the publisher who originally conceived of the project. In the original contract dated August 5, 1777, Saint-Non and his brother agree to invest 30,000 livres against the 30,000 livres already spent by Laborde. In the codicil, added the following year, Laborde admits he has only spent 10,000 livres and the terms are amended accordingly. The production, even under the amended terms, would ruin the wealthy Saint-Non. A fascinating look at the origins of "one of the monuments of 18th-century book production" (Blackmer 1473). Cohen-de Ricci 928-930; Millard French 148; Ray French 34.