DICTIONNAIRE COMIQUE, SATYRIQUE, CRITIQUE, BURLESQUE, LIBRE ET PROVERBIAL (2 Vols. Complete); (New Edition, Revised, Corrected, and Considerably Augmented)
Paris, France: Pampelune, [1718]1786. Revised Edition. Leather-bound. Octavos 7.75" x 5.0". Full,period catspaw calf mottling (.50" x .75") acid-etched into boards. Five raised band (six compartments), each with gilt title on red spine label, and gilt title on dark green morocco label, in next compartment below, indicating volume in series. Elaborately floriated gilt leaf pattern within other compartments. Bottom-most compartment of each volume blacked out, presumably atop previous library markings. All text edges (head, tail, fore-edge) red-stained (at printers); all book edges gilt, though partially faded, or rubbed away. Hand-marbled endpapers of Blue, green, red, orange and white in French Curl (Escargot) pattern. Sticker residue (3 1/2" x 5") to front pastedown. First volume (Tome Premier) covers from A to G; Tome Second G through Z. 612 pp. and 606 pp., respectively. Rubbing to extremities. Very solidly bound.
Each title page bears the perforated stamp of previous educational institutional ownership, but detailed (2019) correspondence with special collections librarians there did not turn up any records of theft, loss, or even deaccession. Very Good. Item #76608
"Cat’s Paw is readily identifiable, if sometimes only vaguely resembling paw prints. The pattern can be irregular, appearing to have been applied with a heavy hand – er, paw? – with the acid biting deeply into the leather, other times quite beautiful with a regular, light touch of the motif. This design was popular from the later part of the 18th century..." (Smithsonian Libraries "Unbound" blog).
Price: $200.00