I was driving home from work yesterday and stopped at a yard sale. Found this treasure! It was going to end up in the trash if i didnt rescue it?!?! Maybe somebody here can tell me a little bit about if you can read in another language.
This has to be something like a 19th century reprint with the language updated. The French is quite modern. I would have more difficulty reading it if it were in the French of 1669. It does use those Ss that look like Fs. Could be later 18th century, I suppose. Maybe folks who know niceties of bookbinding & printing will see evidence that places it earlier. Edit: Bit of a rethink. Just saw j'ay for modern j'ai, the kind of language clue I was looking for. Still think it is not a first edition, but maybe older than I thought at first.
Right to be cautious... "This book was plagiarized (sic) many times, especially in London, but also in Lausanne, Amsterdam, Berne, Venice and Rome and translations in English, Latin, German and Italian were done. These editions appeared very early (as early as 1671 in London) and almost every decade during the beginning of the 18th century saw several publications." http://architectura.cesr.univ-tours.fr/traite/Notice/Leclerc1669.asp?param=en Debora
It also says how much was paid. Year looks like 1783 to me. Acheté à _Paris?_ le 19’ May 1783 pour 6 (?)
The name Du Barry appears in a couple of places. On the title page it is crossed out & replaced with what might be Louis Chollet. We last see it change hands in 1940 (gift of Lester ____?) This is a list of volumes in the library of one Jean Leonard of Brussels. Evidently it includes a copy of this book. I have to conclude that 'par mr. Buchotte' means that Buchotte was the publisher: https://books.google.com/books?id=r...AnoECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=le buchotte de&f=false
No, I don't. Maybe both volumes were printed in one? https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/les-regles-du-dessein-et-du-lavis/ Les régles du dessein, et du lavis : pour les Plans particuliers des Ouvrages & des Batimens, & pour leurs Coupes, Profils, Elévations & Façades, tant de l'Architecture Militaire que Civile . / [Buchotte] (1743)
May well be an early edition - until 1800 or so, people did not throw away books. The DuBarry sig definitely looks like it is smooth and likely done with a quill. Damage cuts down its value, I am sure, but the slight unevenness of the edges is a good sign. My guess - in this condition, still in three figures.
Since it looks like it was bought, maybe not for the first time, in 1783, that's a fair guess. The list of available copies of the Buchotte book is ordered with cheapest first. Would think the leather bound copies farther down make for a good comparison of condition & price.
DuBarry is an allusion to Madame DuBarry (1743 - 1793). rather an indication that the scribbles try to give it more value than it has. the price was probably 6 deniers, the currency before the franc germinal.
The DuBarry's were a noble family, they were around before and after Madame DuBarry, who married into the family. The name can be written as DuBarry or Du Barry.
