Books about Books - Oak Knoll Books

Item 142
142. (Libri, Guglielmo) MONUMENTS INÉDITS OU PEU CONNUS, FAISANT
PARTIE DU CABINET DE GUILLAUME LIBRI, ET QUI SE RAPPORTENT À
L’HISTOIRE DE L’ORNEMENTATION CHEZ DIFFÉRENTS PEUPLES.
Londres: n.p., 1864, large folio, Sheets loosely inserted in modern cloth folder with
original paper wrapper mounted on front. (iv), 14 pages, followed by 65 plates.
$ 2,750.00
Second edition, enlarged with extra plates and including the supplement to the first edition. The
supplement is now fully incorporated into the book. Its introduction forms a type of foreword
and its plates (marked A-E) precede the LX plates of the first edition. Also includes a half-title not
found in the first edition. (Ruju pp.297–299; Pollard p.307; Hermann, Sotheby’s pp.41–43). Designed
as both advertisement and introduction to the last of the London sales conducted by Sotheby’s,
this splendid Catalogue has a brief introductory text in both French and English followed by deluxe
chromolithographed illustrations. Time has not diminished the allure of the chromolithographed
depictions of the fine bindings and decorative art used to enhance these early manuscripts. It is
presumed that much of the material in this catalogue was stolen, as Libri, it is now known, was a
notorious book thief who removed items from many continental libraries. De Ricci describes how
Lord Asburnham was a great client of Libri’s and the difficulties his family had in dispersing his library
due to claims of ownership from various public libraries chiefly in France (English Collectors pp131–
136). Sheets loosely inserted in modern cloth binder with original paper wrapper mounted on front.
Paper repairs along edges. [102505]
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