Paris, 1669.
4to [219 x 155 mm] of (4) ll., 1 portrait and 152 pp. Olive green morocco, double frame of gilt fillets on the covers decorated with lateral motifs with small tools and a central decor composed of a heart pierced with an arrow encircled with small gilt tools, spine ribbed and decorated with fleurdelys, mottled edges. Contemporary binding.
Very rare and precious volume dedicated to precious stones and jewelry dealing with various stones such as diamond, sapphire, topaz, ruby, emerald, pearls, gold and silver.
Sabin, 4957; Palau, 28.340; Penney, p.59; Goldsmith, 1921; Duveen, 71.
One of the most interesting works about precious stones and jewelry.
This second edition is more interesting than the first of 1661 because, it is enlarged with a “current price” for diamonds and pearls and with the chapter “contre la fausse Pierre Philosophale et souffleurs d Alquemie” and a “Suite du chapitre de la perle” which relates to South America (Palau II, 194).
Robert de Berquen was a goldsmith merchant based in Paris.
“In terms of substance, this edition is considerably superior to the first; both are rare” (Sinkankas).
Beautiful edition dedicated to the Grande Mademoiselle, Duchess of Montpensier, “sole daughter of Gaston d’Orléans and Marie de Bourbon”, born in 1627. It is illustrated with her portrait drawn by Larmessin in 1664 enhanced with her pearls necklace.
The unusual presence of a morocco binding on this book, the even rarest one of the fleurs de lys decorating the spine of the volume, the heart pierced with an arrow in the center of the covers responding to the dedication where the author begs Mademoiselle to consider the rarity of things contained in this book and “le cœur de celuy qui la luy présente”…, the autograph signature of the Police Lieutenant of Louis XIV, Nicolas Gabriel de La Reynie, allow us to consider this copy as a Present of the author to the Grande Mademoiselle.
Provenances: La Grande Mademoiselle, Duchess of Montpensier, born in 1627; Gabriel de La Reynie, first General Lieutenant of Police of Paris (1625-1709) and Madam the Duchess of Vendome.
