143 - HAMILTON, Antoine. Memoirs of the Count of Grammont.

HAMILTON, Antoine. Memoirs of the Count of Grammont. Deluxe illustrated edition of this classic by Antoine Hamilton, in a rich full morocco binding lined with Marcel Gambette. Paris, L. Conquet, 1888. In-4 (190 x 280 mm), full midnight blue morocco, spine with raised bands accented by a gold dotted line, double gold fillet framing the richly ornamented panels with a central gold scallop shell motif, author and title in gold lettering, date at the bottom, decorative border on the covers composed of solid and dotted borders, enhanced at the corners with rich Rocaille-style ornamentation, fine interior binding in the same blue morocco adorned with a frieze, red morocco linings decorated with the same Rocaille-style motif, endpapers of moiré silk with floral decoration, triple endpapers, double gilded fillet at the edges, guilloché headbands, gilded edges on endpapers, original covers preserved, half-maroquin slipcase with flaps, edged case. Binding by Marcel Gambette, with gilding by Chevalet. XV and 371 pages, 1 portrait of the author as a frontispiece, and 33 chisel-engraved illustrations, including 11 full-page plates, 11 headpieces, and 11 tailpieces. Minor tear on one edge, spine of the cover slightly sun-faded, wear on the corners of the slipcase. Rare and faint foxing, mainly in the margins. An illustrated edition of this delightful novel by Antoine Hamilton (1646–1720), recounting the picaresque adventures and exploits of his brother-in-law, Chevalier Philibert de Gramont, a French libertine exiled to the English court. It is adorned with a portrait of the author drawn and engraved by Boisson as a frontispiece and 33 compositions engraved with a burin and etched by Boisson after Charles Delort. Preface by Bernard-Henri Gausseron. Limited edition of 700 copies; this is one of the 500 numbered on Marais vellum (No. 220), hand-verified and initialed by the publisher. A superb copy in a double-bound binding by Marcel Gambette, gilded by Chevalet.