La Dauphine Marie-Antoinette
Paris: Boussod, Valadon et Cie, Éditeurs, 1896. First Edition, Édition originale, limited to 1,000 copies on papier vélin des Manufactures du Marais; this copy No. 359. Folio, 181 pages, finely bound by Durvand (signed in gilt on the front turn-in) in full crimson crushed morocco, boards elaborately gilt-tooled in rococo floral borders of scrolls and acanthus within multiple fillet frames. Covers centered with a large gilt armorial crest beneath a princely coronet, the shield quartered with the royal arms of France (fleurs-de-lis) and those of an allied noble family—likely a commission for a royalist collector or member of the Bourbon house. Spine with five raised bands, gilt compartments with fleurs-de-lis and leafy scrolls; gilt title; gilt dentelle turn-ins; striking multicolor marbled endpapers; all edges gilt. Original wraps bound in. An exquisite example of late-nineteenth-century French luxury binding, uniting Durvand’s craftsmanship with Pierre de Nolhac’s celebrated biography of the young Marie-Antoinette. The combination of Bourbon arms and ducal coronet strongly suggests a noble or royalist provenance, aligning with the author’s position as curator of Versailles and chronicler of the Bourbon court. La Dauphine Marie-Antoinette by Pierre de Nolhac is a richly illustrated and meticulously researched biography chronicling the early life of Marie-Antoinette, from her upbringing as an Austrian archduchess to her arrival in France as the young bride of the future Louis XVI. Written by the distinguished historian and curator of Versailles, the book combines archival scholarship with a deep appreciation for the visual and material culture of the Bourbon court. De Nolhac presents Marie-Antoinette not merely as a tragic figure of later revolution, but as a symbol of refinement, grace, and political diplomacy during the twilight of the ancien régime. Lavishly produced by Boussod, Valadon & Cie, the volume reflects the French royalist revival of the late nineteenth century, pairing elegant prose with fine photogravures and sumptuous design worthy of its subject. Front hinge starting to crack towards top and tender. Some light scattered foxing, else in very good + condition. Item #165
Price: $3,000.00