OEUVRES DE M. SCARRON EN VII TOMES

Amsterdam: Chez J. Wetstein, 1752. Nouvelle Edition. 142 x 84 mm. (5 5/8 x 3 1/4"). Seven volumes. Reviewed, corrected, and augmented with a History of his Life and Works, a Discourse on the Burlesque Style, and a quantity of Pieces omitted from previous Editions.
ELEGANT CHOCOLATE BROWN MOROCCO, GILT, BY LEBRUN (stamp-signed in gilt at foot of spine), covers with double frames of French fillets and lace-like rolls, smooth spines with vertical titling within a similar frame, densely gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, edges gilt over marbling. Printer's device on title pages, volume I with engraved frontispiece portrait, other volumes with frontispieces illustrating the works therein (five by L. F. D. Bourg, one by Paetr), all engraved by Folkema. Magne 403; Tchemerzine V, 742; Cohen-de Ricci 945; Brunet V, 184. Isolated trivial stains or minor smudges (from printing process), but A VERY FINE SET, clean, fresh, and bright internally, IN SPARKLING BINDINGS.

This is an exceptionally attractive copy of what Scarron bibliographer Magne calls the best and most beautiful collection of the works of that 17th century master of the burlesque style, offered here in exquisite bindings by an award-winning 19th century Parisian artisan. Paul Scarron (1610-60) was not only known for his prolific output as a novelist, dramatist, and poet, but also for his curious and difficult life. He was severely deformed by what is thought to be polio or an inflammatory spinal condition, endured considerable pain, and, in an effort to find relief, became addicted to opium. Nevertheless, at 42, he married the beautiful young Françoise d'Aubigné, who, after our author's death, became Madame de Maintenon, Louis XIV's mistress and eventually his morganatic wife. In addition to Scarron's novels, our set contains his letters to acquaintances--among them cardinals, nobles, and the queen of Sweden--as well as plays, poetry, and "Virgil Travesti," his masterful parody of "The Aeneid." The story of a group of travelling actors, his most important work, "Roman Comique," is perhaps the very first French novel to show genuine power of depicting manners and character, and it is impressively vivid. The binder Lebrun (fl. 1830-57) was employed for some time at the workshop of Simier before striking out on his own. He won medals in the exhibitions of 1839, 1844, and 1849, and was praised by the jury at the latter for his passionate love for the craft. He was notable for using a variety of leathers in his work, and for his mastery of the art of pastiche. His clients included bibliophiles Armand Bertin, Jules Janin, and Baron Taylor. This set stands on the shelf like so many soldiers in full dress, impeccably attired with gilt, and--as a reflection of the careful appreciation shown to it over the years--with virtually no signs of use..