Author: [PARIS DE MEYZIEU].
Title: Bibliotheca Parisiana. A Catalogue of a Collection of Books, Formed by a Gentleman in France, not less Conspicuous for his Taste in Distinguishing, than for his Zeal in Acquiring, whatever, of this kind, was most Perfect, Curious, or Scarce. It includes... Books Magnificently Printed on Vellum, with Illuminated Paintings; Manuscripts on Vellum, Embellished with Rich Miniatures... They will be Sold by Auction, in London, on Monday the 26th of March, 1791, and the Five Days Following.
Description: London: [J. Edwards]. 1791. 8vo (195 x 125 mm), viii, 164pp., with half-title, original pink boards, rubbed, spine rather chipped, but still a nice uncut copy. First issue of the title page with the 26th instead of the 28th of March as the first day of the sale. An interesting sale of mysterious ownership put together by James Edwards who had already brought the Pinelli books from Venice for sale in London. The additions came from the library of Cardinal de Brienne and from Italy. The sale also contained Aldines which never existed. Renouard in his Annales de Alde suggested that Edwards had purchased these books in Italy and had used the Italian booksellers notes to catalogue them without having seen them personally. The deception created five fictitious Aldines (lot 18, 171, 206, 223 and 526). De Ricci, p. 89; Munby and Coral, p. 90, Arthur Rau, Bibliotheca Parisiana in 'The Book Collector', Autumn, 1969.

Keywords: BOOK AUCTION CATALOGUES BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS ABOUT BOOKS