[Rarebooks] fa: HISTOIRE DU VICOMTE DE TURENNE 1736 - w/ DE SECONDAT (MONTESQUIEU?) PROVENANCE

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, auction ending Sunday, Feb. 12. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/6v45sq8

Thanks,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.

[Andrew Michael de Ramsay:] Histoire du Vicomte de Turenne, Maréchal General des Armées du Roi. Paris: Chez la Veuve Mazieres & J.B. Garnier, MDCCXXXVI [1736]. Four volumes, 8vo (18 cm), in full period calf with spines elaborately tooled in gilt; 318, 336, 295, 342 pp.; woodcut decorations and initials.

An uncommonly fresh and handsome example of this biography of Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, Marshal of France under Louis XIV. Of additional interest is the early/contemporary owner's signature of "Secondat / de Secondat" on all four title-pages, and the old bookseller's printed catalogue description, tipped onto the front endpaper of vol. I, identifying the set as "Ex-libris manuscript de Secondat." De Secondat was the family name of Montesquieu (Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu), and while we cannot, of course, claim that these volumes belonged to Montesquieu himself, they were published, and presumably bound, in his lifetime, and the author did have a significant personal connection with the great philosopher. The Scottish-born Andrew (or André) Michael de Ramsay (1686-1743) was a part of the Jacobite diaspora that haunted the courts of Europe awaiting the recall of the Stuarts to the English throne. He was converted to catholicism by Fénelon, became an active Freemason, and at one time  acted as tutor to the young Bonnie Prince Charlie in Rome. During the 1720s "he frequented the Parisian literary and political salon Club de l'Entresol in the company of Rene-Louis Argenson, Lord Bolingbroke and Montesquieu. Against that background he wrote his Travels of Cyrus (1727) which made him a best-selling author in his time, and for the revised edition of which he travelled to London (1729–30) where he was again in touch with Montesquieu. Both were elected Fellows of the Royal Society in December 1729" (. At the very least, the presence of the de Secondat name in this set suggests an intriguing family association.

Front hinge of vol. I cracking at the foot and head but board is secure, bindings with bumping and wear to the corners, some light rubbing, small chip from one spine label; occasional light toning to the leaves, one leaf with loss to the fore-edge due to a paper flaw (not affecting text); otherwise contents are exceedingly clean and fresh. A handsome set.