Beschreibung:

LARCHER, Pierre-Henri-(1726-1812) -- Catalogue des livres rares et précieux de feu M. Pierre-Henri-Larcher, Professeur de Littérature grecque dans la Faculté des Lettres de l'Académie de Paris. Dont la Vente se fera le lundi 7 novembre 1814 . Paris: Crapelet for Debure frères, P.L. Vincent commissaire-priseur, 1814. 8 o (208 x 123 mm). With the rare 2-leaf announcement of the times and order of sale inserted at the end. BOUND FOR LOUIS XVIII OF FRANCE BY MOTET (unsigned): contemporary gold-tooled red straight-grained morocco, floral roll border on sides, Royal arms (Olivier 2497.2=2495.19 a reuse of the Louis XV arms-block) in the center, spine decorated in compartments, key roll along turn-ins, gilt edges. Provenance : King Louis XVIII (1755-1824), one of the most learned and literary French monarchs, whose library counted numerous classical texts. Larcher, editor of Xenophon and Herodotus, was the most eminent Hellenist in ancien-régime France and through the Revolution. The anonymous biographical notice at the beginning of the sale catalogue was written by the successor to his chair at the Institut de France, Jean-François-Boissonade (1774-1857). The collection was naturally very strong in editiones principes , but most notably included a fine Gutenberg Bible (lot 12), the subsequent Ashburnham-Hoe paper copy donated by the Widener family to Harvard University (Folter 15). FINE ROYAL COPY. The floral roll and corner tool can be found on a signed binding by Motet reproduced by S. De Ricci in French Signed Bindings in the M.L. Schiff Collection (pl. 158). North 549; BBB Wittockiana 23.