Mémoires
The most beautiful and prestigious known copy of these Memoirs where “Retz reaches genius” bound in superb old morocco by Derome le Jeune.
Set of 7 small octavo volumes, red morocco, triple gilt fillet around the boards, smooth spine decorated with small gilt tools, decorated edges, inner roll gilding, gilt edges.
Period binding by Derome le Jeune.
152 x 95 mm.
Retz, Cardinal de. Memoirs. 1731-1739, 7 small octavo volumes.
Amsterdam, J.-Fr. Bernard.
Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz, containing // Remarkable events that took place in France during the first years of the reign of Louis XIV. New edition, carefully revised, expanded with several historical clarifications, & some pieces by Cardinal de Retz & others, serving the history of that time. First volume — fourth.
Amsterdam, J. Frédéric Bernard. MDCCXXXI. 1731.
Four small octavo volumes of (I) leaf, portrait engraved by Thomassin, (20) ff. and 390 pp.; (I) leaf
and 399 pp.. (1) leaf and 452 pp.; (1) leaf, 331 pp. and (15) ff.
Edition more complete than previous ones, the best published in the 18th century.
“This is the most sought-after edition of these Memoirs; it is difficult to find beautiful copies.” (Quérard).
It is completed by the following memoirs:
Memoirs of Gui Joly, counselor at the Châtelet, etc.: Containing the history of the regency of Anne of Austria and the first years of the majority of Louis XIV until 1666, the intrigues of Cardinal de Retz at court, his travels in various European countries & the private life of this Cardinal until his death, etc. Work serving as a supplement to the Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz. New edition, augmented with remarks & with curious clarifications on the history of that time.
Amsterdam, Jean Frederic Bernard. M.DCCXXXVIII. — M.DCCXXXIX. (1738-1739).
Two small octavo volumes of (8) ff., last blank and 244 pp.; (I) leaf and 300 pp.
Memoirs of Madame the Duchess of Nemours: Containing what happened of greatest significance in France during the War of Paris, up to the imprisonment of Cardinal de Retz in 1652. With the various characters of the members of the Court.
In Amsterdam, Jean-Frédéric Bernard, 1738.
Small octavo of (4) ff.; 156 pp. and (2) ff.
Together 7 small octavo volumes, red morocco, triple gilt fillet around the covers, smooth spine richly decorated with small gilt tools, decorated edges, gilt roll-tooled inner dentelle, gilt edges.
Contemporary binding by Derome le Jeune.
152 x 95 mm.
Original collective edition “the most complete and the best” (Tchemerzine) of these Memoirs where “Retz reaches genius” (Guy Schoeller).
“These Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz present us with such a vivid and colorful picture of events, they give us sensations as lively and intense as possible, in almost impressionistic touches, of the atmosphere of the time: the popular riot, the stormy sessions of Parliament, Paris under siege, the armed coups which, incidentally, were the limits of military operations, and lastly, the vain and self-interested ambitions of the nobles—few works instruct us more about the era. The Memoirs of Retz are a true manual for the perfect conspirator, a series of examples, precepts, and even lessons. Here, Retz attains genius. He found in the Fronde everything fitting for the blossoming of his talents. He is a great adventurer, with something of the Italian condottiere and the Corneillean hero. As Gustave Lanson says, “he is sublimely, absolutely immoral in continuous greatness of soul.”
“The Memoirs abound in maxims that are as true today as in 1640, maxims as deep, as bold as those of Machiavelli and stronger because more concrete… No man of his time was a greater historian, none understood as he did the disorder in the royal political machine during the minority of Louis XIV, none knew better how to penetrate and portray not only the leading actors of the Fronde but political men of all times.” (André Maurois).
Among the portraits drawn by the bold pen of Cardinal de Retz, the most notable are those of the queen, Mazarin, Gaston d'Orléans, Condé, Turenne, La Rochefoucauld, Mme de Longueville and her brother, the Prince of Conti, Mme de Chevreuse and Mme de Montbazon, and finally that of Mathieu Molé. In these small frames, the painter is incomparable; his portraits are less figures than characters. A mischievous finesse, a firm and delicate touch, a sharp line, a cruel boldness—such are the qualities of his talent in this genre. Mazarin fared badly for having posed before him; this satirical page was accepted by history.” (Pierre Larousse)
Apparently the most beautiful and prestigious known copy, from the most illustrious libraries.
Provenance: St Mauris, in 1840, sold for 157 gold francs; Prince Sigismond Radziwill, Paris, Pottier, year 1865; no.1457 “Very beautiful copy of the most sought-after edition of these Memoirs, bound in red morocco by Derome.” sold for 599 gold francs, a remarkable bid, the original edition of “Bijoux indiscrets” by Diderot, a fine copy in period binding, being awarded for 21 gold francs at the same auction (no. 997); Comte de Lignerolles (Paris, 1894, lot 2912, sold at the colossal price of 2,000 gold francs; Robert Hoe (1839-1909). His sale III, lot 2697; R.E. Cartier.
Magnificent copy of one of the main literary original editions of the Grand Siècle, from the most illustrious libraries and adorned with a sumptuous contemporary morocco binding by Derome le Jeune, of astonishing freshness.
