WITH A MASSIVE (52 BY 30 INCHES) HAND-COLORED GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE: BARON ASHBURTON'S GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS, 1825 LARGE FOLIO FIRST EDITION, VERY HANDSOME IN CONTEMPORARY MOROCCO-GILT WITH THE ARMS OF FRANCE

(ROYALTY—FRANCE) ASHBURTON, Richard Barre Dunning, Lord. Genealogical Memoirs of the Royal House of France. London: William Nicol, Shakespeare Press, 1825. Two volumes. Large folio (13 by 17 inches), contemporary full navy straight-grain morocco gilt, covers gilt-stamped with the royal crest of France, all edges gilt. $2800.

First edition of Baron Ashburton's genealogy of the Royal House of France, with massive folding hand-colored genealogical chart mounted on linen, measuring 52 by 30 inches. A very handsome and desirable copy in contemporary morocco-gilt, stamped with the arms of France, the chart housed in a matching morocco-gilt portfolio, from the library of Sir Thomas Baring, eldest son of the founder of Barings Bank, with his bookplate.

"Of all the families now extant, the most ancient, doubtless, and the most illustrious, is the House of France, which has occupied the same throne above eight hundred years… from the middle of the ninth century" (Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, quoted on the verso of the title page). Baron Ashburton's posthumously published history traces the genealogy of France's kings from Robert the Strong, in the middle of the ninth century; the large folding table commences with Hugh Capet. Armorial bookplate of Sir Thomas Baring of Stratton Park, eldest son of the founder of Barings Bank. "An entirely new area masterminded by Baring was the finance of railway construction, in particular for schemes in the United States, Canada, Russia, France, and Chile… 'There is only one man [in London] to look to and consult, and to guide action in important financial matters,' reckoned an American railway manager in 1853. 'Ask about anything and the reply is "What does Mr. Thomas Baring say or think?"'" (ODNB). Later owner's penciled annotations to front flyleaf and verso of half title, infrequent pencil marginalia.

Minor foxing to first few and last few leaves, interior quite clean and fresh; folding table fine. Both volumes with light rubbing to joints, minor color restoration to extremities. A very handsomely bound copy in near-fine condition, with a nice provenance.