Catalogue de la bibliothèque de feu M. le Comte D. Boutourlin. Dont la vente se fera le lundi 25 novembre 1839 [-14 Octobre 1841], 3 parts in 2 vol., Part 1 number 5 of 30 copies, Parts I & III printed on ‘grand papier vélin’, part II a smaller copy on paper, half-titles, engraved arms to titles, notes on Boutourlin in ink on front free endpapers of vol.1., spotting, small marginal wormhole to ff. at end of vol.1, part 2 light uniform browning, 20th-century blue cloth, spines lettered in gilt, top edges gilt, others uncut, partly unopened, spines little faded, 8vo, Paris, Silvestre, 1839-1841.

⁂ Anthony Hobson's set of these scarce catalogues for the Paris sales of the library of Count Boutourlin, who was Librarian of the Imperial Russian Library, and one of the most important book collectors of 19th century Russia. The library included 244 manuscripts, around 1000 incunables, an almost complete collection of Aldines, and a complete collection of books from the Bodoni Press. It was his second library, as the first was destroyed during the burning of Moscow in 1812.

Provenance: G. C. Galletti, Florence (ink stamp to first title); Anthony Hobson (1921-2014), book auctioneer, book historian (particularly bindings) and bibliophile (armorial bookplate).