ONLY 20 COPIES PRINTED: SUPERB ILLUSTRATED SET OF LES DAMES GALANTES, HANDSOMELY BOUND

BRANTOME, Pierre de Bourdeille Seigneur de. Les Sept Discours Touchant Les Dames Galantes de Sieur de Brantome, Publies sur les manuscrits de la Bibliotheque Nationale par Henri Bouchot. Paris: Librairie des Bibliophiles, 1882. Three volumes. Octavo, contemporary full red morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. $1650.

Limited edition, number 16 of only 20 copies printed on China paper with numerous copper-engraved plates in double suite, handsomely bound by Bretault.

Brantome (1540-1614), the renowned French historian and biographer, pursued a military career until 1580, when he retired to write the histories of famous women and men he had known. His works present a fascinating picture of court life; the loves, vanities, and follies of the dames galantes described here are presented in entertaining and sometimes graphic detail. Text in French. Original wrappers bound in. Bookplates of noted collectors Henry William Poor, Rudolph August Witthaus, and Julia Parker Wightman.

A lovely production in fine condition.