Catalogue des livres de feu M. le duc de la Vallière, 3 vol. (vol.3 in 2 parts), engraved portrait of La Vallière by Charles-Nicolas Cochin, fils, 5 engraved plates, of which 4 folding, priced throughout in a contemporary hand, letter from Abbé Desaunays (Royal librarian) to Abbé Rive (librarian to La Vallière) and the latter’s response copied in a contemporary hand on final 13 ruled and paginated pp., occasional spotting, more frequent to vol. 3, contemporary calf with arms of Guillaume Pavée de Vendeuvre, richly gilt spines in compartments and with red morocco labels, a couple of joints starting to split at head, vol. 1 spine head worn, [Brunet II, 554, 'rédigé avec beaucoup de soin'; Peignot pp.128-129; Pollard & Ehrman 297; Taylor, Book Catalogue, p.248], small 4to, Paris, Guillaume de Bure the Elder, 1783.

⁂ Rare set of one of the most important catalogues of the 18th century. 'The manuscripts constitute an amazing collection of early French poetry and romances' (Taylor). Louis César de la Baume Le Blanc, duc de la Vallière (1708-1780) was a soldier, courtier, and historian of dance and theatre. His vast collection of books and manuscripts was assembled with the help of his librarian Jean-Joseph Rive (1730-1791), bibliographer and revolutionary leader. The sale of 5668 lots took place in December, 1783, and realised 464,677 livres, 8 sols. The rest of the Duke’s library was sold in 1788, for which a second catalogue (6 vol.) was produced.