Histoire Universelle composée par ordre de Mesdames de France

18 volumes in-12, red morocco, triple gilt fillet on the covers, gilt coat of arms in the center, spine with raised bands and gilt decoration, spines of volumes XV and XVI decorated with the arms of the Queen of France, Marie Leszczynska, gilt fillet on the edges, inner roll, gilt edges. Royal armorial binding of the period.

163 x 98 mm.

[Ladies of France]. Linguet, Simon. Hardion, Jacques (1686-1766). Universal history composed by order of the Ladies of France.
Paris 1754-1765.

Very rare first edition whose printing, carried out by order of the Ladies of France, extended over 25 years, from 1754 to 1769.

The last two volumes printed in 1769, after the death of Queen Marie Leszczyńska at Versailles on June 24, 1768, are obviously absent here. The Ladies of France entrusted Simon Linguet (1736-1794) and Jacques Hardion with the task of writing this “Universal History”.

“Linguet drew countless disgraces upon himself because of the boldness of his character, a dominant and innovative mind, literary knowledge surpassing that of many other lawyers, and finally a diction full of fire and wit, which stirred up more opposition against him than it won him admirers.”

Hardion was the librarian of King Louis XV, a member of the Academy, and tutor to the children of Louis XV in history and literature.

Copy offered to the Queen of France, Marie Leszczyńska, bound in red morocco with her coat of arms.

Marie-Charlotte-Sophie-Félicité Leszczyńska, second daughter of Stanislas Leszczyński, King of Poland, and Catherine Opalińska, was born in Breslau on June 23, 1703, and in her childhood shared the misfortunes that had forced her dethroned father to seek refuge in Sweden, Turkey, and finally in France, where he settled near Wissembourg in Alsace (1719); a court intrigue lifted her from the obscurity in which she lived and led her to marry Louis XV at Fontainebleau on September 5, 1725. The queen had formed a library composed almost exclusively of works of piety or history, most of which were bound by Padeloup. Two of the volumes bear the queen's monogram on the spine and several are printed on very large Dutch paper.

Precious set that came into the possession of Madame Sophie after the queen's death, who gifted it to one of her close companions, who wrote this note at the beginning of the first two volumes: “This book was given to me by Madame Sophie, 12mo, 18 vols. Copy of the late queen.”

Sophie-Philippine-Elisabeth-Justine of France, eighth child of Louis XV, born at Versailles on July 27, 1734, was called Madame Cinquième until 1745, when she took the name Madame Sophie.