68 - SENAULT (Louis). *Heures nouvelles tirées de la Sainte Ecriture*. Written and engraved by L. Senault. Paris: published by the author and Claude de Hansy, n.d. (after 1690). In-8, contemporary lemon-colored morocco binding, decorated covers, framed by a fillet embellished with gold dots, with mosaic compartments of red and green morocco symmetrically arranged on all four sides, the oval-shaped ones adorned with a repeating diamond pattern, the others, diamond-shaped, embellished with small metal motifs including a chalice, a starfish-shaped motif inlaid with red morocco and accented with small gold fillets at the four corners, the center consists of a wide four-lobed green morocco leather band bearing in its center a gilded toothed wheel on a red morocco leather background and surmounted by a fleur-de-lis motif also inlaid with red morocco leather, the entire design, like the background of the decoration, is embellished with numerous small gilded metalwork elements—dots, volutes, stars, and flame-like motifs—and a ribbed spine, each compartment adorned with a different gilded and mosaic motif; a wide straight lace border frames the lining, the lining, as well as the endpapers, covered with marbled paper on a gold-checked background adorned with a superb floral design accented with red, blue, pink, and white; gilt edges.

SENAULT (Louis). *Heures nouvelles tirées de la Sainte Ecriture*. Written and engraved by L. Senault. Paris: published by the author and Claude de Hansy, n.d. (after 1690). In-8, contemporary lemon-colored morocco binding, decorated covers, framed by a fillet embellished with gold dots, with mosaic compartments of red and green morocco symmetrically arranged on all four sides, the oval-shaped ones adorned with a repeating diamond pattern, the others, diamond-shaped, embellished with small metal motifs including a chalice, a starfish-shaped motif inlaid with red morocco and accented with small gold fillets at the four corners, the center consists of a wide four-lobed green morocco leather band bearing in its center a gilded toothed wheel on a red morocco leather background and surmounted by a fleur-de-lis motif also inlaid with red morocco leather, the entire design, like the background of the decoration, is embellished with numerous small gilded metalwork elements—dots, volutes, stars, and flame-like motifs—and a ribbed spine, each compartment adorned with a different gilded and mosaic motif; a wide straight lace border frames the lining, the lining, as well as the endpapers, covered with marbled paper on a gold-checked background adorned with a superb floral design accented with red, blue, pink, and white; gilt edges. One of the most beautiful books of the late 17th century, the work of the engraver and calligrapher Louis Senault. Entirely engraved—both text and ornamentation—this volume follows the form of medieval books of hours while also renewing it; it is delightfully decorated with a multitude of vignettes, headpieces, tailpieces, illustrated initials, and floral-decorated borders. Published around 1680 and dedicated to the Dauphine, it was frequently reprinted through the 18th century. In this edition, the epistle to the Dauphine (who died in 1690) has been omitted, and the mermaid’s breasts, on page 210, have been modestly concealed by seashells, but the Prayer for Madame la Dauphine still appears at the bottom of page 69. The copy has been enhanced with five separate plates engraved after works by Guido Reni, Philippe de Champaigne, Coypel, Mignard, and Le Brun. SUPERB BINDING WITH A LARGE MOSAIC DECORATION BY AUGUSTIN DUSEUIL. It was undoubtedly executed during the Regency (1715–1723) or shortly thereafter. It is known that it was during this period that Duseuil (1673–1746) created—perhaps in collaboration with his cousin by marriage, Antoine-Michel Padeloup—these bindings of an entirely new style, decorated with a mosaic of applied leathers in various colors. Known as “compartimented” bindings, these works—whose whimsy and exuberance stood in stark contrast to the austere creations of the previous reign—“were crafted with extremely meticulous technique and had a very high production cost, which is why so few examples have survived to this day ” (Michon, *Mosaic Bookbindings of the 18th Century*). This precious binding has come down to us in a remarkably fresh condition, without the slightest flaw and completely free of any restoration. In addition to the quality of its exterior decoration, note its stunning linings and endpapers featuring floral motifs enhanced with color on a gold background. This copy is listed by Michon (no. 324), who erroneously attributes the binding to Padeloup. Reproduced by Albert Flocon in *L’univers du livre* (Paris: Hermann, 1961), it had previously been featured prominently in the Berès catalog, No. 40 (1947), No. 305 (with the binding correctly attributed to Duseuil), reproduced in color on the frontispiece, priced at 575,000 francs—one of the highest prices in this otherwise extensive catalog. From the Edmée Maus library, with bookplate. Acquired by Émile Rossignol in 1978, during the dispersal of the Maus library.