57 - MONTFAUCON (Bernard de).

MONTFAUCON (Bernard de). The Monuments of the French Monarchy, which comprise the history of France, along with portraits from each reign that have survived the ravages of time. Paris, Gandouin & Giffart, 1729–1733. 5 folio vols. of [2]–[2] ff., XXXVIII–[2]–402 pp., [11] ff., frontispiece, pls. I–LV; [2] ff., 342 pp., [16] ff., pl. I–LXIII (including XIII bis); [2]–[2] ff., 356 pp., [15] ff., pl. I–LXIX; [2]–[10] leaves, 368 pp., [14] leaves, plates I–LIV, including VII bis, ter, and quater, XX bis, XXVIII bis; [1]-[1] leaves, 434 pp., [12] leaves, plates I–LVIII. Light-colored calfskin, spine with decorated raised bands, title and volume number labels in red and tan (contemporary binding). Headbands, jaw, and corners worn. Stains on the covers. Old labels glued to the covers. Paper yellowed in places. Scattered foxing in some volumes. Rare water stains or soiling. Large tear with no loss on pp. 352–353. Marginal tear (with a piece preserved) on pl. XXXIV, vol. 4. The half-title page of the last volume is missing. The illustrations consist of a frontispiece featuring a portrait of Louis XV, 6 large header vignettes, 6 illustrated initials, and 310 plates, many of which are double-page or fold-out, all of which together form an incomparable iconographic collection on the history of France. First edition of this work, which traces the history of the Kings of France from Pharamond to Henry IV. The numerous plates that adorn it depict the likenesses of kings, queens, and important figures, as well as notable events from successive reigns and several objects from the royal treasury. Notably, it includes the first series of illustrations depicting the Bayeux Tapestry, which dates back to the year 1077.