LITERATURE IN BALDWIN'S WINTER 2014-15 LIST

Médailles de Louis le Grand

NB001 [Académie Royale des Médailles et des Inscriptions] Médailles sur Les Principaux Evènements Du Règne de Louis le Grand, Avec Des Explications Historiques. Paris, de L’Imprimerie Royale, 1702. Folio (430x285mm), beautifully engraved allegorical frontispiece by Charles Simonneau L’aîné after Antoine Coypel featuring the Royal portrait of the King by H. Rigaud in the upper left corner, title printed within engraved border with engraved vignette by Sebastien le Clerc below, 14 page preface signed by Anisson supplied in manuscript within engraved borders, 286 pages of plates printed on verso’s only, each depicting the obverse and reverse of 286 medals with descriptive text by Nicholas Boileau-Despréaux (1636-1711) and many with decorative culs-delampe below, all within elaborately engraved borders, ‘Table des Médailles Contenues en ce Volume’ on pages 287- 289, ‘Fautes d’impression’ on the recto of page 289. Sumptuously bound in the original full crimson French morocco with the Royal arms gilt embossed on both sides, three line border in gilt. Six raised bands, lettered in gilt, with the Kings crowned Royal cipher centrally placed in each compartment amidst further gilt decoration. All edges and inner dentelles gilt, marbled endpapers. From the library of the Earls of Macclesfield with their finely engraved armorial library plate on the first pastedown and embossed library stamp on prelims.

The book itself was first presented to Louis XIV on January 9th, 1702. It had been produced with little or no regard to time or expense - the finest engravers had been hired, the best quality paper was sourced and an entirely new and revolutionary font (Roman du Roi) was designed which was itself 7 years in the making and marked the first real change in Western font style since 1495. The purpose was to provide a carefully constructed history of Louis XIV’s reign through the commemorative medals which he himself had issued. The production of Médailles was not conceived of as a commercial project, it was an exercise in presentation and served as ‘an expression of academic respect for the typographic arts’ displaying not only the skill of the craftsmen involved but more importantly, Louis XIV’s role as patron of the arts. The finished product is a masterpiece of the bibliographic arts, sumptuously produced and perfectly fitting for ‘Le Roi Soleil’. Initially, it included the 14 page preface which was quickly suppressed from further copies, apparently upon the direct orders of the King himself who somewhat surprisingly, found the tone overly sycophantic. As such, copies with it present are exceptionally rare, particularly so in manuscript form as here.

Medallic Illustrations of Great Britain

NB027 Hawkins, E., Franks, A. W. & Grueber, H. A. Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ireland to the Death of George II. London, 1885 & 1904-1911. Text in two volumes. Thick octavo, pp. engraved frontispiece, xxxii, (1), 724 + 866, line illustrations in the text; 183 superbly engraved plates each with descriptive text bound into three folio volumes, 64 page index. The plates, originally issued in 19 cloth backed folders, have here been expertly bound on linen hinges with all five volumes in matching black polished half morocco and cloth boards and all with neat vellum corners. Raised bands, gilt. Contents throughout virtually as issued. A monumental work based on the collection held at the British Museum. Still the standard reference and essential for any collector of commemorative medals. Rarely seen in such fine condition.

Van Mieris and Van Loon on Dutch Medals

PRESENTATION COPIES OF VAN MIERIS AND VAN LOON’S MASTER WORKS ON DUTCH MEDALS IN MAGNIFICENT CONTEMPORARY BINDINGS

All volumes with the engraved armorial ex-libris of the renowned Van Kinschott family on the front pastedown. A magnificent set of books both in terms of size and content, the pair forming what is still the standard reference to Dutch medals almost 300 years after their publication. Medals issued up until 1555 are covered by Van Mieris and those from 1556 to 1716 by Van Loon. Both titles are scarce but the exceptionally large format of both of these works suggests that they are one of a very small number of presentation copies perhaps given to the family directly. Two classic works, still essential for anyone studying the medals of the Low Countries. Exceptionally rare in this format, in magnificent contemporary bindings and with an illustrious provenance.

To read the complete fixed price list, see:
http://www.baldwin.co.uk/fixedpricelistw201314/

The numismatic literature can be reached directly here:
www.baldwin.co.uk/media/cms/fixedpricelist/W201415
/Baldwins%20FPL%202014%20W%20-%205%20BOOKS.pdf

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