JOURNAL DE LA COUR DE LOUIS XIV, Depuis 1684, jusqu'a 1715; Avec des Notes interessantes, &c. &c. &c.
Pp. [ii]+174, title page decoration; narrow cr. 8vo; early qr. calf, spine ruled in gilt with gilt lettered and decorated green leather title label, light brown speckled papered boards with vellum corner tips, edges of boards a trifle rubbed; all edges sprinkled blue; endpapers slightly marked, long closed vertical tear to gutter pp. 129/130 (not affecting text), a few tiny (probably early) red ink marks to margins; London, 1770. First edition. ESTC T113043. *Published anonymously (by Voltaire), under a false imprint. The text is extracted from the journal of Philippe de Courcillon, Marquis de Dangeau (1638-1720). The 'interesting notes' are by Voltaire. Originally issued in paper wrappers, this copy is from the library of H[enri] Tronchin, whose armorial bookplate is on the upper pastedown beneath the Bessinge library label and inventory number. (The number is also inscribed in pencil on the upper free endpaper). Voltaire was associated with several members of the Tronchin family. His personal doctor was Theodore Tronchin (1709-1781), a celebrated Enlightenment physician and pioneer of smallpox inoculation. Francoise Tronchin (1704 to 1798) was also a friend. Colonel Henri Tronchin (1794-1865), lay president of the Evangelical Society of Geneva, used Les Delices, (Voltaire's residence while he lived in Geneva from 1755 to 1760) to store and distribute Bibles. The Tronchins were an influential Swiss family and Domaine de Bessinge, the family home near Geneva, contained a notable library. Item #184344
Price: $1,500.00