108 - Jacques ANDROUET DU CERCEAU. The First [- The Second] Volume of the Most Excellent Buildings of France. In which are depicted the floor plans of fifteen buildings, along with their layouts, as well as the elevations and distinctive features of each. Paris, for the aforementioned Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, 1576–1579. 2 parts in one small folio volume, brown calfskin, double fillet with central metalwork and azure spandrels, (modern) spine with 7 raised bands, gilt edges (contemporary binding).

Jacques ANDROUET DU CERCEAU. The First [- The Second] Volume of the Most Excellent Buildings of France. In which are depicted the floor plans of fifteen buildings, along with their layouts, as well as the elevations and distinctive features of each. Paris, for the aforementioned Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, 1576–1579. 2 parts in one small folio volume, brown calfskin, double fillet with central metalwork and azure spandrels, (modern) spine with 7 raised bands, gilt edges (contemporary binding). Brunet, I-280 / Millard, 8 /// I. (8f.), 77 pl. / II. (8f., the last blank), 72 pl. First edition of this important work, illustrated with 149 copperplate engravings on 121 sheets, most of them double-page spreads. Below are the details of the number of plates and sheets: First volume: Louvre (9 plates on 9 sheets), Vincennes (2 on 2), Chambord (3 on 3), Boulogne (10 on 9), Creil (1 on 1), Coussy (5 on 4), Folembray (2 on 2), Montargis (5 on 4), Saint-Germain (6 on 4), La Muette (3 plates on 1 sheet), Vallery (5 plates on 5 sheets), Verneuil (10 plates on 10 sheets), Ancy-le-Franc (5 plates on 3 sheets), Gaillon (9 plates on 7 sheets), and Maune (2 plates on 2 sheets). Volume 2: Blois (5 out of 5), Amboise (3 out of 3), Fontainebleau (7 out of 7), Villers-Cotterêts (3 out of 3), Charleval (5 out of 5), Tuileries (4 out of 3), Saint-Mor (3 out of 3), Chenonceau (4 out of 3), Chantilly (9 out of 7), Anet (10 out of 7), Écouen (5 out of 5), Dampierre (4 out of 4), Chalvau (3 out of 2), Beauregard (3 out of 3), and Bury (4 out of 3). A very fine copy, carefully cleaned and returned to its original binding with covers adorned with metal stamps on azure backgrounds. The spine has been rebuilt. The volume contains the restoration invoice issued by Gustave Benard on July 23, 1898. Binding restored with a modern spine. Copy cleaned; several plates restored without damaging the engravings.