Gavard - Galeries historiques de Versailles + Histoire de France - 1838-1841

A monumental panorama of French history, so complete and rarely preserved in this fullness: Gavard’s magnificently equipped “Galeries historiques de Versailles” unite in six enormous volumes well over 600 steel engravings with the complete historical accompanying text – an impressive publishing grand project of the 19th century. First edition. Paris, Ch. Gavard, 1838–1841. 6 monumental volumes in uniform half-leather bindings of the period with gilt spines and bound-in gold titles. LARGE FOLIO 38 x 29 cm. Total weight approx. 26 kg. Extensive, collated ensemble of the Galeries historiques de Versailles: 4 atlas volumes with series I–XI, totaling 592 individual plates in steel engraving on Velin, 4 double plates, and 41 engraved titles and subtitle titles. The plates each with the original silk wrappers. Volume 4 additionally with 228 pages of text, index and subscribers’ list. In addition, the complete Histoire de France, 4 parts in 2 volumes: 444 + 388 + 391 + 338 pages King Louis-Philippe had the former royal palace transformed from 1833 into a museum of French history, which opened in 1837 as the Musée de l’Histoire de France. Gavard’s elaborately produced work made this vast collection accessible to an international audience. The sequence, divided into eleven series, leads from early French history through the Bourbons, the Revolution and the Republic to Napoleon and the Restoration. Battles, historical events, rulers, military leaders and other notable personalities form a broad panorama of French history. Of particular charm are the large-format steel engravings after the paintings and works of art gathered at Versailles. In addition to historical scenes and depictions of battles, the sequence includes views and plans of Versailles as well as extensive portrait series. For the reproductions Gavard used, among other things, the Diagraph he further developed, which allowed precise transfer of paintings and other templates. The two text volumes of the Histoire de France form the explanatory historical accompanying text to the depicted events and personalities, completing the plate work into a coherent ensemble. The extensive subscribers list also documents the remarkable international diffusion of the project; at its head are Louis-Philippe and the royal family as well as numerous European sovereign houses. Bindings more rubbed and bumped, especially on edges, corners and hinges with some starting defects. Internally, overall remarkably clean and fresh; only sporadically or in places lightly foxed, the plates mostly very clean. All silk wrappers present. Overall a very well-preserved and complete exemplar of this impressive testament to French history and representation culture of the 19th century."

Estimation:€1,000

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