Search Results: Authors starting with L from LIBRAIRIE CAMILLE SOURGET

Paris, chez Debure père & chez l'Auteur, 1775.8vo [182 x 98 mm] of xlviii pp., 328 pp., (3) ll., (1) bl. l., 4 engravings on 2 folding plates out of pagination. Marbled calf, blind-stamped fillet around the covers, flat spine decorated with gilt fleurons, red morocco lettering-piece, marbled edges. Contemporary binding.First and only edition of the first description of the diving suit, Jean-Baptiste de La Chapelle's new invention.The word "scaphandre (diving suit)", from the Greek skaphe (boat) and andros (man), was used for the first time in 1775 by Abbot de la Chapelle in his work Traité de la construction théorique et pratique du scaphandre ou du bateau de l'homme. The invention of Abbot de la Chapelle was a costume made of cork and allowing soldiers to float and cross waterways."The Abbot Jean-Baptiste de la Chapelle is a French mathematician, born around 1710, dead in Paris, in 1792. Royal censor, member of some Academies in the provincial France and of the London Royal Society, he spent his… Read More

Paris, chez la Veuve Pissot, 1745.
-[Followed by]: Lettre à Madame *** sur l'emeute populaire excitée En la Ville de Cuenca au Perou, le 29 d'Août 1739. Contre les académiciens des sciences, Envoyés pour la mesure de la Terre.
N.p., 1746.
8vo [198 x 125 mm] of: I/ (2) ll., xvi pp., 216 pp., 1 folding map; II / (1) l., 108 pp., (2) ll., 1 folding pl. Bound in marbled fawn calf, spine ribbed and decorated with gilt fleurons, red morocco lettering piece, mottled edges. Rubbed corners, small lacking at the spine-ends. Contemporary binding.
I/ First edition of this "very interesting relation" (Chadenat), of the first scientific trip down the Amzaon River.
Brunet, III, 729; Chadenat, I, 2665; Leclerc, Bibliotheca
Americana, 1768; Pritzel 1848; Double, Cabinet d'un curieux, 30; Sabin 38484; Rahir, La Bibliothèque de l'amateur, 483; Palau 129370; Borba de Moraes, I, 446. "Very valuable relation." Chadenat.
"We find in this relation precious information regarding many parts of a vast country that… Read More

Madrid, Casa de M. Copin Carrera de S. Geronimo, 1777.
Folio [406 x 255 mm] of (1) engraved title, 50 full-page engravings numbered from 1 to 48, plus 2 unnumbered plates between plates 28 and 29. Some tears in the margins of plates 27, 28 and 35.
Full marbled calf, spine ribbed and finely decorated, red morocco lettering piece, inner gilt border, red edges, covers covered with skin subsequently.
A very rare collection of Spanish costumes.
Colas 1706, Lipperheide 1209 ; Palau y Dulcet, II, 339 ; Vinet 2222 who mentions 62 planches.
" The only existing part of this rare collection of which copies exist with 64 plates or with 82 plates". (Colas).
The work was issued in 7 parts, containing 12 plates for parts 1 to 6 and 10 plates for part 7, which means a total of 82 plates.
Juan de la Cruz made these superb engravings of costumes from drawings bu his brother Manuel, but also from drawings by several artists such as: Luis Paret, Jos. Munoz y Frias, Alf. Bergaz, Julian Davila, Antonio Carnisero, Guillermo… Read More

Paris, Claude Barbin, 1689.
4 parts in 2 volumes 12mo [154 x 85 mm] of: I/ (2) ll., 211 pp. ; (1) l., 214 pp., (1) bl.l. ; II/ (1) l., 216 pp.; 211 pp. numbered 213, (5) pp. of privilege.
Glazed calf, decorated ribbed spines, red morocco lettering pieces, red edges. Contemporary binding.
True second edition of one of the most important works of French 17th century literature.
Tchemerzine, III, 840-841.
Published on March 17th 1678, the book was very successful: Mme de Sévigné proclaimed her enthusiasm; Fontenelle read and read again the book four times; Boursault made a tragedy in five acts of it; Valincour inflamed public opinion with his " Letters...
" to which the abbot of Charnes answered.
If Mme de la Fayette denies her taking part in the writing of this work in a letter dated April 1678, one cannot doubt anymore that she wrote the book, influenced by her close friend La Rochefoucault and advised by Segrais.
This true second edition printed in large characters takes up the first edition,… Read More

Lyon, Macé Bonhomme, 1553.
8vo [157 x 100 mm] of (13) ll. and 100 numbered ll., title slightly shorter at the bottom, vignettes 90 and 91 partially colored in blue.
Brown morocco, double frame of blind-stamped fillets with gilt fleurons in the corners and decoration at the centre, spine ribbed and decorated with gilt fleurons, inner gilt fillet border, gilt edges. Binding signed by Capé.
First edition and first issue of this very beautiful illustrated collection of emblems.
Adams L-172 ; Brunet, III, 830 ; Rothschild, V, 3328 ; Brun, 232 ; Vinet 841 ; Landwehr, Romanic, 454.
Dedicated to Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendomois to whom 2 epistles are addressed, this book of 'crazy wisdom' is preceded by a couplet and a quatrain by Bernardo Poggio, a sonnet by Guillaume de Caynet and a decima by Jacques de Maulevant.
It was the second illustrated work of its kind composed by this poet and historian from Toulouse, after 'Le Théâtre des bons engins' published in 1539.
The present collection is… Read More

S.l., 1756.
8vo [160 x 95 mm] of 128 pp. and a folding map. Small marginal restoration on the last l. not affecting the text. Fawn marbled calf, flat spine richly decorated with gilt lattice patterns, paper guards decorated with floral patterns, red edges. Contemporary binding.
Rare first edition of the French translation of this important work, of the utmost interest for the history of Pennsylvania, aiming at wining the support of the French people whereas France is fighting against England in America.
Sabin, 19370 ; Leclerc, 519 ; Howes, p. 216; Streeter II-960.
The abbot La Ville actually gives here his own version in French, largely augmented and revised, of William Smith's work entitled "Brief state of the Province of Pennsylvania" that was just published in London a few month before.
This work by the abbot La Ville turns out also to be an essential source of information about Benjamin Franklin's activities during this time and most of all about his efforts to get help from General Braddock.… Read More

Paris, Jean-Baptiste et Charles J.B. Delespine, 1730.
8 volumes 12mo [164 x 95 mm] of : I/ (3) ll., xxii pp., (1) l. of table, 459 pp., (35) pp. of table ; II/ (2) ll., 398 pp., 1 folding pl., (17) ll. of table ; III/ (2) ll., 403 pp., 2 engravings out of pagination including 1 folding, (29) pp. ; IV/ (3) ll., 413 pp. (misnumbered 415), 1 folding pl., (12) ll. ; V/ (2) ll., 401 pp., (11) pp. ; VI/ (2) ll., 388 pp., 1 folding pl., (5) ll. ; VII/ (2) ll., 399 pp., (6) ll., VIII/ (4) l., 411 pp. (misnumbered 409), (9) ll. A few light foxing. Red morocco, large gilt dentelle on the covers, gilt arms stamped on th center of the covers, spine ribbed and decorated with gilt fleurons, gilt edges. Contemporary binding.
First edition of the travel made by Père Labat in Spain in 1705 and in Italy in 1706 and from 1709 to 1716.
Père Labat was a Dominican religious and a professor of mathematics and philosophy in Nancy. He embarked in 1693 in La Rochelle to join the missions in Martinique then in Guadeloupe.… Read More

Paris, P. Didot l'Aîné, 1802.
Very large folio [680 x 510 mm] of (2) ll., 103 pp., 1 engraved frontispiece printed in colors and enhanced with watercolor and 22 out of pagination numbered plates, including 1 on double-page. Engravings in the text. Some slight foxing. Bound in contemporary brown Russian leather, covers richly decorated with gilt fillets and neo-classical borders, spine ribbed and decorated, gilt edges. Contemporary binding by Ph. Selenka with his label.
Rare first edition of this superb work of which only 160 copies were printed.
Vicaire, Manuel de l'amateur, IV, 741; Graesse, Trésor de livres rares, IV, 59; Brunet, III, 714; Cicognara 3960: " edizione di massimo lusso "; Monglond V, 1124-1125; Palau 128972.
"Published at 200 fr.; this work has been, according to 'La France littéraire' by Quérard, printed in a limited edition of 160 copies"
(Vicaire).
The mosaic mentioned on the title (of about 13 x 9 meters) was discovered on December 12, 1799 in Italica (today the city of… Read More

Paris, Antoine de Sommaville, 1654.
8vo [159 x 100 mm] of (8) pp., 200, and 2 full-page engraved plates. 2 inverted ll., the map is missing as usual. Red morocco, gilt fillets on the covers with bird fleurons in the corners, spine identically decorated, inner gilt border, gilt edges. (Lortic).
Extremely rare first edition of this account of which only few copies are known, containing the report of the unfortunate expedition of Royville to the "Cape of North in French America" achieved in 1652 in order to "make our God known to the savage and infidel people", and to colonize them.
The map is missing as usual.
Brunet, III, 20; Ternaux-Compans, 740; Church, 533; Sabin, 38951; Graesse, Trésor de livres rares et précieux, III, 103.
It is after learning in France the disasters and the tragedy of the despotic Charles Poncet de Bretigny, who died in 1645 slaughtered with his companions by the natives that Royville decided to found a new company in order to colonize these lands, after having worked… Read More

Paris and Bruxelles, 1874.
12mo of 332 pp., (1) l. Brown quarter-morocco, spine ribbed, top edge gilt over untrimmed edges, beige printed wrappers and spine bound in. Binding signed Blanchetière, circa 1915.
188 x 115 mm.
First edition, second state, of this masterpiece of French Romanticism (Emond Jaloux).
Carteret, II, 503; Clouzot 188; Vicaire, V, 103-104.
This kind of prose epic, in 6 songs, was published in Brussels by Lacroix and Verboeckoven in 1869.
Only 5 or 6 copies dated 1869 are known.
Lacroix sold his stock to a Brussels bookseller, Rosez, who put back on sale almost all the copies with a title and a wrapper bearing the address of Paris and Brussels and dated 1874.
"Copies of the second state are quite rare; their price keeps going up". (Clouzot).
"I have not been able to see the 1869 edition, which is the original". (Vicaire).
This magical and torturous book is the most disconcerting in French literature. Its theme remains man's rebellion against God.
Suspected of insanity, Lautréamont… Read More

Madrid, Thomas Junti, 1622 (end of 1621).
Folio [329 x 222 mm] of (2) bl. ll., 1 frontispiece, (2) ll., 78 ll. of text, 15 engraved plates including 3 folding, small hole on l. 25.
Full red morocco, triple gilt fillet around the covers, spine ribbed and decorated with fleurs de lys, inner border, gilt edges. Lortic fils.
Extremely rare first edition, missing from Brunet, Ruggieri, Chadenat, Deschamps etc.
Berlin 3090; Hofer, Baroque Book Illustration, 87.
A very rare festival book describing the celebrations surrounding the entry of Philip III of Spain (1578-621) to Lisbon in 1619. Philip, who ruled Portugal as Philip II from 1598 to his death in 1621, visited on his own initiative and against the view of both the Council of State and that of Castile. He was accompanied by the Prince of Asturias (future Philip IV).
The king's visit had been postponed several times, but when it finally took place, it was celebrated with the grandeur due a monarch whose rule extended over five continents. João… Read More

Paris, Gallimard, Nrf, 1967.
8vo [217 x 145 mm] of 221 pp., (9) pp. Preserved sewed as issued.
The first edition of this essay by j. m. g. Le Clezio published in 1967 by Gallimard.
One of the first 36 numbered copies on Hollande vellum, followed by 156 copies on pur fil vellum.
A discursive essay, the opposite of any system, composed of meditations written in all tranquillity, intended to stir rather than to reassure, yes, to shake up received ideas, acquired or learned things. It is a treatise on applied emotions. "Principles and systems are weapons against life."The beauty of life, the energy of life are not of the spirit, but of matter.
A perfect copy in mint condition.

FRENCH
Paris, Gallimard, Nrf, 1967.
In-8 de 221 pp., (9) pp. Conservé broché tel que paru.
217 x 145 mm.
Edition originale de cet essai de J. M. G. Le Clézio publié en 1967 aux éditions Gallimard.
Un des 36 premiers exemplaires numérotés sur vélin de Hollande, suivent 156 exemplaires sur vélin pur fil.
Essai discursif, à… Read More

Londres, 1785.
12mo [131 x 80 mm] in red morocco, double gilt fillets, decorated spine, inner gilt edges, gilt edges. Binding of the end of the 19th century.
First edition "unobtainable today" of the first issue of the "Diable au corps", printed in 1785, one of the most famous erotic novels published simultaneously with the works of marquis de Sade.
This title was used by Raymond Radiguet (1903-1923) for his autobiographical novel published the year of his death.
Le Diable au corps is a picture of Parisian mores shortly before the Révolution, and Nerciat has supplemented this picture with another: Les Aphrodites, which takes place some fifteen years later, during the first revolutionary convulsions. It was undoubtedly in connection with Le Diable au corps and Les Aphrodites that Baudelaire wrote the note he intended to develop: "The Revolution was made by voluptuous people".
This very rare first edition is decorated with 4 erotic figures.
Published clandestinely in 1785, without the author's… Read More

Paris, 1599.
Oblong 4to [188 x 275 mm] of: a superb engraved frontispiece, 4 pp. including the dedication to Monsieur de La Guesle, (4) pp. including the rare " Extrait des Registres de Parlement ", followed by 31 engraved plates in the art of writing. Bound in its eighteenth century marbled paper brochure.
First edition very rare complete of the "Rizographie", one of the three collections dedicated to the art of writing by Le Gangneur, illustrated with a remarkable frontispiece and 31 engravings.
Adams L-387 ; Becker, The Practice of Letters
44 ; Bonacini 1039-41 ; Brunet, III, 934 ; Destailleur 842.
Given the position of secretary-writer of the King's Chamber probably under Charles IX and certainly under Henry III, he was confirmed in this position by Henry IV.
On 1 October 1599, Le Gangneur received a privilege to print trois traictez de l'art d'escriture of which he is the author, which were published in 1599 (La Technographie) and 1600 (La Caligraphie). The three collections of examples by Le… Read More

N.p.n.d. [Paris, 1789].
Large 4to [273 x 215 mm] composed of 30 full-page plates mounted on guards. Marbled calf, covers richly decorated with corner fleurons and gilt borders, spine ribbed and decorated, inner gilt border. Later binding.
The rarest of all the illustrated French books from the 18th century, extremely rare in contemporary colors.
Cohen 248.
This copy contains the first of the two series finely executed by Moreau le Jeune and printed successively. It is composed of 30 plates, with as much flags, which pole is held by a national guard; plates are numbered 1 to 30.
The 30 plates are here in a state before-the-letter, with handwritten legends. Destailleur's copy, the only other one recorded, had printed legends.
We know that these engravings,
"one of the rarest and finest products of the Revolution",would have been drawn, printed and colored in a single night, on July 18th, 1789 and that the drawings would be the work of Moreau le Jeune.
The faces of the national guards are very well… Read More

Paris, chez Nepveu (de l'imprimerie de Firmin Didot), 1822.
Oblong 8vo [240 x 160 mm] of: 1 engraved frontispiece decorated with a vignette, 154 pp., 24 water-colored pl. out of pagination. A few rare foxing. Preserved in its original blue wrappers. Right upper corner torn without loss. Contemporary wrappers.

Fifth edition, entirely reedited and considerably enlarged, rare like all the childhood books.
Gumuchan et Cie, Les Livres de l'enfance du XVe au XIXe siècle, 3766; National Union Catalog (NUC pre-1956), 280:273.
The previous editions are so rare that this one is generally considered as the original one. Besides, Gumuchian only quotes the present edition.
An exceptional copy of which the set of 25 aquatint copper-engravings by Xavier Leprince have been contemporary enhanced with watercolor. The engraving decorating the title leaf represents three young boys surrounded by the attributes of various games: racket, hoop, kite, etc.
Each engraving pictures some boys in bourgeois clothes giving… Read More

Augsburg, n.d. [circa 1729].
4to [278 x 203 mm] of 20 plates, a few plates numbers cut by the binder, small brown stain on the upper edge of a few engravings, small tears restored at the bottom of plate n° V. Red half-morocco with small vellum corners, spine ribbed and decorated with grotesque, lettering piece in red morocco on the upper cover. Modern binding in the style of the 18th century.
First edition, first issue in contemporary bright coloring.
Extremely rare suite of engravings representing the porcelain table centerpiece of a fantastic "Chinese banquet" organized in Germany in the 18th century.
It contains 20 (out of 23) numbered plates engraved on copper by the artist from Augsburg Johann Christian Leopold.
This sumptuous banquet took place on January 11, 1729 at the Castle of Ettlingen near Rastatt, property of the Margravine Franziska Sibylle Auguste, born Princess of Saxe-Lauenburg (1675-1733), widow of Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden, known as the Türkenlouis after his glorious… Read More

Paris, Pierre Lafitte & Cie, 1910.
12mo [189 x 120 mm] of (3) ll. and 520 pp. Preserved in the editor's wrappers, spine slightly faded, untrimmed. Editor's wrappers.
Rare first edition of the "Phantom of the Opera".
Our copy bears the fictitious mention "30th edition" at the back of the half-title.
Before the publication of the first edition, the text was initially published as serial stories in the daily paper Le Gaulois
from September 23th, 1909 to January 8th, 110.
Gaston Leroux(1868-1927) is a French writer and a journalist known for his detective novels with a fantasy quality. He undoubtedly took his sources of novelistic inspiration from his professional experiences as a lawyer, a judicial columnist and as a great reporter.
The Phantom of the Opera is an investigation novel varying between fantasy literature and espionage. Inspired from real facts that happened in the Opera Garnier, Gaston Leroux pictures the culprit as a mysterious character pretending to be a ghost and who extends his realm in… Read More

Paris, Jacques Josse, 1701.- [With] : Copie d'une lettre de Monsieur Maigrot à Monsieur Charmot, du II Janvier 1699 reçue à Paris en Août 1700. Elle montre la fausseté de ce que le Père le Comte a écrit touchant la Religion ancienne des Chinois. 1700.- [With] : Suite du journal historique des assemblées tenues en Sorbonne, pour condamner les Mémoires de la Chine.12mo [157 x 87 mm] of (2) ll., 100 pp.; II/ 88 pp., tear p. 25; III/ 45 pp. Granite-like brown calf, spine ribbed and decorated with gilt fleurons, mottled edges. Contemporary binding. First edition of this study on the religion of the Chinese by the successor of Matteo Ricci at the head of the Jesuit mission in China.De Backer & Sommervogel IV, 1932; Quérard V, p. 347."The Directors of the Seminary of the Foreign Missions have obtained the privilege of having printed ancient Treatises of various authors on the ceremonies of China. The first they publish is that of Father Longobardi, Jesuit, who at his entry into this Kingdom read… Read More

Paris, Didot, 1814.
4 volumes 8vo [216 x 132 mm] of : I/ (1) bl. l., (2) ll., 1 portrait, xxiii pp., (1) bl. p., 175 pp., (1) bl. p., 1 full-page plate, 164 pp., (1) bl. l. ; II/ (1) bl. l ., (2) ll., 1 full-page plate, 460 pp., (1) bl. l. ; III/ (1) bl. l., (2) ll., 1 full-page plate, 395 pp., (1) bl. l. ; IV/ (1) bl. l., (2) ll., 1 full-page plate, 496 pp., (1) l. of errata.

Contemporary blue straight-grained morocco, richly decorated covers with diverse blind-stamped and gilt borders, richly decorated ribbed spines, gilt inner border, gilt edges. Contemporary binding signed Thouvenin.
"This edition well printed and on vellum paper, should be preferred to all the others". (Brunet, III, 1175).
First edition given by Meon, dedicated to the count Daru, illustrated with 4 superb engravings by Monnet and a Gothic portrait of Jean de Meung by Girardet.
Bulletin Morgand an Fatout, 11334 ; Graesse, IV, p. 263.
"Which surprises every time we approach the 'Romance of the Rose' is that it's a work of… Read More