Martin (Gabriel, compiler & auctioneer) Catalogue des livres de la bibliothèque de feu M. Le Blanc, Secrétaire d’État, woodcut arms of Le Blanc to title, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, with supplementary 38pp. index (often missing) and 'addenda et corrigenda' leaf at end, priced in a contemporary hand, some light browning, contemporary speckled calf, spine gilt and with red morocco label, stain to upper cover, upper joint cracking but holding, spine head chipped and foot rubbed, [Bléchet pp.80-81; Grolier, French Book Auctions, 29; Peignot 81], 8vo, Paris, Gabriel Martin, 1729.

⁂ Anthony Hobson's copy of this scarce catalogue. Gabriel Martin was 'le premier en France, après Prosper Marchand, se livra avec succès à la rédaction des catalogues de livres à vendre, et sut la porter à un degré de perfection difficile à surpasser.'. This is the collection of Claude Le Blanc (1669-1728), twice Secretary of State for War. It comprises 3328 lots and is rich in works on the history of France and other countries.

Provenance: Anthony Hobson (1921-2014), book auctioneer, book historian (particularly bindings) and bibliophile (armorial bookplate and pencil initials); ‘collated perfect B. Quaritch’ (inscription to rear inside cover).