1 / 6

Description

GOURVILLE (Jean Hérault de): Mémoires, concernant les affaires ausquelles il a été employé par la Cour, depuis 1642, jusqu'en 1698. Paris, Estienne Ganeau, 1724. 2 volumes. 9.5 by 16.5 cm. (2)-333; (2)-338-(5) pages. Contemporary full basane, 5-rib spine, ornate caissons, red title-pieces. Minor spotting and restoration on one cover. Very good binding despite these defects. Paper sometimes slightly scorched. First edition. The financial distress of the nobility in the 17th century Bourgeois et André, S.H.F. 808. "Jean Hérault, who later became Seigneur de Gourville, is a typical example of a man of humble origins who, in the 17th century, made his fortune in finance by means that were often unscrupulous. Born on the lands of the Duc de La Rochefoucauld, he entered the service of his family and spent ten years as butler to the author of the memoirs, following him during the Flanders War and the Fronde. In contact with members of the highest nobility, whose fortunes he skilfully administered and whom he occasionally helped with his money, he never forgot his own particular interests: as quartermaster in the army of Catalonia, where he met Fouquet, then as general collector of sizes in Guyenne, he was able to enrich himself quickly and greatly. Having already been locked up in the Bastille in 1655, he fled to Burgundy and then abroad when Fouquet was disgraced. The services he rendered to the King in his dealings with the Dukes of Brunswick and Hanover made people forget his death sentence in absentia, and Gourville was able to return to France in 1668. He obtained letters of abolition, lived at court, was entrusted with several diplomatic missions, and became so influential that he was even designated as Colbert's successor (1683). He lived the last years of his life in peace, honored by the friendship of the greatest figures of the time - Condé, Mme de Sévigné, Boileau, etc. - and died making honest use of his dishonestly acquired fortune. [...] This early Gil Blas took too personal a viewpoint to be of interest to posterity: however, in speaking of himself, he was led to expose, since he was a man of finance, the financial situation of the states he traversed in the course of his negotiations, and especially that of the nobles who had recourse to his skill. In this sense, his memoirs are curious: others have described the political weakness of the aristocracy during the Fronde; Gourville makes us aware of its financial distress." (S.H.F.).

Automatically translated by DeepL. The original version is the only legally valid version.
To see the original version, click here.

261 
Go to lot
<
>

GOURVILLE (Jean Hérault de): Mémoires, concernant les affaires ausquelles il a été employé par la Cour, depuis 1642, jusqu'en 1698. Paris, Estienne Ganeau, 1724. 2 volumes. 9.5 by 16.5 cm. (2)-333; (2)-338-(5) pages. Contemporary full basane, 5-rib spine, ornate caissons, red title-pieces. Minor spotting and restoration on one cover. Very good binding despite these defects. Paper sometimes slightly scorched. First edition. The financial distress of the nobility in the 17th century Bourgeois et André, S.H.F. 808. "Jean Hérault, who later became Seigneur de Gourville, is a typical example of a man of humble origins who, in the 17th century, made his fortune in finance by means that were often unscrupulous. Born on the lands of the Duc de La Rochefoucauld, he entered the service of his family and spent ten years as butler to the author of the memoirs, following him during the Flanders War and the Fronde. In contact with members of the highest nobility, whose fortunes he skilfully administered and whom he occasionally helped with his money, he never forgot his own particular interests: as quartermaster in the army of Catalonia, where he met Fouquet, then as general collector of sizes in Guyenne, he was able to enrich himself quickly and greatly. Having already been locked up in the Bastille in 1655, he fled to Burgundy and then abroad when Fouquet was disgraced. The services he rendered to the King in his dealings with the Dukes of Brunswick and Hanover made people forget his death sentence in absentia, and Gourville was able to return to France in 1668. He obtained letters of abolition, lived at court, was entrusted with several diplomatic missions, and became so influential that he was even designated as Colbert's successor (1683). He lived the last years of his life in peace, honored by the friendship of the greatest figures of the time - Condé, Mme de Sévigné, Boileau, etc. - and died making honest use of his dishonestly acquired fortune. [...] This early Gil Blas took too personal a viewpoint to be of interest to posterity: however, in speaking of himself, he was led to expose, since he was a man of finance, the financial situation of the states he traversed in the course of his negotiations, and especially that of the nobles who had recourse to his skill. In this sense, his memoirs are curious: others have described the political weakness of the aristocracy during the Fronde; Gourville makes us aware of its financial distress." (S.H.F.).

Estimate 100 - 250 EUR

* Not including buyer’s premium.
Please read the conditions of sale for more information.

Sale fees: 25 %
Leave bid
Register

For sale on Saturday 07 Sep : 10:30 (CEST) , resuming at 14:00
villefranche-sur-saone, France
Richard Maison de ventes
+33428390020
Browse the catalogue Sales terms Sale info

Delivery to
Change delivery address
MBE VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-SAÔNE
More information
Delivery is not mandatory.
You may use the carrier of your choice.
The indicated price does not include the price of the lot or the auction house's fees.