[4], x, xxvi, 395, [1] pp. Half-title. Title printed in red and black, with engraved vignette. Illustrated with engraved frontispiece portrait; 25 engraved plates; and 45 engraved head- and tail-pieces (some repeats) by Tanjeì, Folkeìma, Drevets, Gunst, Surugue, Bernaerts and Schenck after Bernard Picart, G.F.L. Debrie, Vivien, and Dubourg. Text within typographic borders. (folio) 14¼x10¼, period armorial calf, spine elaborately gilt in 8 compartments with raised bands, one with red morocco lettering-piece. One of 150 copies in large format.
Extremely handsome copy of an important illustrated book, in period armorial binding (arms with a lion and eagle rampant, and ducal coronet). Cohen-de Ricci, 381-82; Ray, Art of the French Illustrated Book, 1.
Condition:
Light wear at corners, a little mild rubbing; text block cracked at p.152; very intermittent toning and marginal foxing, some very pale offsetting from text to plates; about fine.