Catalogue des Livres de la Bibliothéque de M. Motteley, composée d'une Collection considérable d'Elzévirs et autres beaux Livres et Manuscrits rares, précieux et singuliers, la plupart reliés par Desseuil, Padeloup, Derome, Simier, Purgold, Thouvenin et Vogel; dont la vente se fera le jeudi 2 décembre 1824, et jours suivans..

5 p.l., 219, [1] pp. 8vo, cont. boards, black leather lettering piece on spine. Paris: Silvestre, 1824.

An important sale. "Ce catalogue renferme une réunion très-nombreuse de livres imprimés par les Elzeviers; il en est de très-rares et qui étaient jusqu'alors restés inconnus aux bibliographes."­Brunet, Dictionnaire de Bibliologie Catholique, col. 498. A large number of Motteley's books come from the libraries of de Thou and the Comte d'Hoym.

We learn from the same source that Motteley (d. 1850), lived as a hermit, alone and isolated in a rundown apartment. He was afraid to make home repairs because of his fear of disturbing the (truncated) treasures on which he had spent so much money.

Of the 2173 lots, approximately 550 are attributed to the Elzeviers; a number of the items are accompanied by useful printed notes and include an expansive contribution by Charles Nodier on lot 533.

Fine copy, printed on thick paper and priced throughout in a contemporary hand.

❧ Grolier Club, Printed Catalogues of French Book Auctions…1643-1830, 587–“According to Bibliographie de la France, 20 large paper copies were printed.”. (Inventory #: 665)