Mes gaietés de quatre mois
Very rare first edition.
This fine copy, bound and decorated in morocco, was long considered a unicum: a single copy located in a composite volume kept at the Besançon library.
After listing his "titles for the guillotine", the author recounts how, thanks to a good dose of nerve, he managed to slip through the nets of the revolutionary armies during the siege of Lyon.
12mo, 56 pages. Red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the covers, spine with raised bands and gilt decoration, green morocco lining decorated with a broad border of fine gilt rolls, double endpapers, gilt edges. Martin.
180 x 110 mm.
Combles d'Anthon, Jean Charles de. My Four Months of Merriment, followed by the Four Big Crowns of Mr. or the Small Restitution [sic] of a Great Man Refused. Printed in Joyeuse, 1794.
Only edition of this exceptionally rare text.
After listing his “titles for the guillotine,” the author recounts how, thanks to his trickery and a good dose of nerve, he managed to slip through the net of the revolutionary armies during the siege of Lyon.
On his way, he notably crossed paths with Dubois-Crancé and Gauthier, who had set up positions at the Château de La Pape, between the Rhône and the Saône.
The work is attributable to Jean Charles de Combles (1753-1803?), owner of the Château d’Anthon in Isère, councillor at the mint court and noted merrymaker, who took part in the Estates General of Vienne before the clouds gathered. He is also the author of a scatological parody of Voltaire’s Zaïre entitled Caquire, which caused something of a stir.
Very beautiful copy in doublé and decorated morocco, from the library of Joseph Nouvellet, one of the most ardent bibliophiles of Lyon.
It was long considered a unicum.
The bibliophile noted on a mounted card at the beginning of the volume: “Until now, only this copy has been seen. Mr. Morel de Voleine, who devoted a brochure to the author, knows of no other.”
But a second copy is now recorded in the CCfr, in a composite collection held at the library of Besançon.
The extreme rarity of the work, the historical details and biting anecdotes, the luxurious binding: all combine to make this copy highly desirable.
No copy has come up at auction since records began, more than 40 years ago.
