The most beautiful work of the 18th century devoted to Paris, adorned with 54 engravings by Martinet.
Béguillet, Edmé / Poncelin, Jean-Charles. Historical description of Paris, and its most beautiful monuments, Engraved in Copperplate by F.N. Martinet, Engineer & Engraver of the King’s Cabinet; To serve as an Introduction to the History of Paris & France: dedicated to the King.
In Paris, at the Authors, and in Dijon at Frantin, 1779-1781.
3 volumes in-8 of: I/ (2) ff., 2 engraved frontispieces, xii pp., c pp., 384 pp., 20 plates out of text; II/ 2 frontispieces, xxiv pp., 414 pp., (1) f., 11 plates out of text; III/ 1 frontispiece, xi pp., 420 pp., 18 plates out of text. Full mottled calf, spine with raised bands, red morocco title and volume number pieces, gilt fillets on edges, red edges. Binding of the period.
197 x 117 mm.
First and only edition of the most beautiful work of the 18th century dedicated to Paris.
Cohen 692; Berkvam, La Vie parisienne, n° 41; Lacombe, Catalogue, n° 931; Dufour, 55; Mareuse, n° 12128.
This unfinished title, but very finely illustrated, has become rare in all its issues: only the first volume is by Edme Béguillet (who died in 1786); the other two, published in 1780 and 1781, were written by Poncelin (1746-1828).
It offers an impressive series of views of the main monuments of the capital before the Revolution, commendable for the fineness of the line and for the rarity of certain representations (notably educational establishments).
It is the entire organization of the capital over the centuries compiled throughout these pages that provides a vast overview of the City’s organization at the end of the 18th century. The contemporaries appreciated these finely illustrated works which presented Paris from its best angle.
Beguillet and Poncelin followed in the footsteps of Piganiol de la Force with his Historical Description of the City of Paris and its Environs whose last edition was dated 1765.
“Work adorned with 3 engraved titles, 2 frontispieces, 3 headers, 10 plates of allegories and portraits and 39 plates of views of Paris with 2 subjects per plate, all engraved by Martinet. Lovely illustrations.” (Catalogue of books related to the history of the city of Paris, 291)
“The engraved titles, frontispieces and charming engravings depict the main monuments of Paris at the end of the last century. Volumes II and III, published later, are very rare.” (Dufour, Artistic, Historical and Literary Bibliography of Paris before 1789)
” The plates representing monuments of Paris or the old boulevards, are remarkable for the fineness of the engraving and very interesting from the point of view of changes that occurred in Paris“.
Notable are animated street scenes, the colleges of the Latin Quarter and the Alfort Veterinary School.
“Martinet’s etchings are perfect illustrations for these articles on all aspects of religious, civil, and intellectual life in Paris” (Michael L. Berkvam).
Beautiful copy bound at the time from the famous library of Doctor Lucien Graux.
