THE COPY OF LOUIS ANTOINE, THE LAST DAUPHIN OF FRANCE, WITH HIS COAT-OF-ARMS

GERARD, Philippe Louis. Le Comte de Valmont, ou les égarements de la raison; par l’abbé Girard. Paris: Dufour, 1826. Five volumes. Small octavo, contemporary full red morocco gilt, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, boards gilt-tooled with coat-of-arms of Dauphin Louis Antoine of France, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $3000.

Later edition of this novel extolling the moral virtues, each volume with an engraved vignette title page by Louis Pierre Spindler, handsomely bound by Duplanil for Louis Antoine, the last Dauphin of France, later reigning briefly as Louis XIX, with his royal coat-of-arms.

Gerard’s popular epistolary novel follows a young nobleman as he gives up a life of wantonness and materialism for one of moral integrity. First published in 1774. Text in French. The copy of the last French Dauphin, Louis Antoine, son of Charles X, with boards gilt-tooled with his coat-of-arms. The French crown prince was traditionally called “Dauphin” because of the use of dolphins in his coat-of-arms, a design created in 1604 by Jean de Beaugrand. When Charles X abdicted in 1830, Louis Antoine became Louis XIX until he abdicated himself 20 minutes after his father. Some French royalists refused to accept the abdications, and considered the exiled Charles X King of France until his death in 1836, with Louis XIX as his successor.

Occasional scattered light foxing to interiors. A fine, handsome set with excellent provenance.