(MONTESQUIEU, Charles - Louis de S.). Le Temple de Gnide(.) Nouvelle Edition, Avec Figures Gravées par N. Le Mire, des Acad. de Vienne en Autriche et de Rouen, D'après les Deßins de Ch. Eisen. Le Text Gravé par Drouet... Paris, Le Mire 1772.
Gr.-8vo. (3) lvs., 7 pp., (1) p. (blank), 104 pp. + (16) lvs. With 16 engraved plates, frontispiece, title and 1 headpiece, engraved as well, all by Le Mire after Eisen. Text engraved throughout by Drouet. 19th century brown marocco. Tchémerzine VIII, 455. First edition with these illustrations. About the engravings: Lewine: "In the plates artist and engraver both appear at their best". Ray: "With regard to suavity and grace Eisen never surpassed these plates." 7 of the 9 plates probably as the very rare proofs (without text and number) bound in too (=16 plates). Lewine: "The unlettered proofs are worth a fancy price, still more so the etchings, which are excessively rare." A very clean copy.
Euro2800
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