‎DAN Pierre - Henri du PLESSIS-GUÉNÉGAUD ( provenance ) :‎
‎Le Tresor des Merveilles de la maison royale de Fontainbleau.‎

‎" Paris, chez Sebastien Cramoisy, imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, 1642, in-folio, 36 cm, (44) nn pp + 354 pp + (2)nn pp (privilege) , with full page engravings included in the page numbering. Title printed in red & black with engraved printer's mark. Error in page numbering (pp 156 for 162). Bound in contemporary mottled calf, raised gilt spine with title label, armorial binding with a supra libro on both covers of Henri de Guénégaud , within a fine double gilt fillet. With the printed ex-lbris of ''Dampierre'' tipped on to the first fly leaf. Title page with some minor water stains, binding expertly restored, endpapers and title label renewed. A very fine copy in a fine armorial binding. Provenance; the book was bound for Henri du Plessis-Guénégaud ( 1609 - 1676), seigneur du Plessis-Belleville, marquis de la Garnache, a former state-secretary from the Royal Household (from 1643 - 1669). When he fell into disgrace his successor was the famous Colbert. (for the supra-libro see Olivier-Hermal plate 1889/2). This is the first edition of the first description of the Chateau de Fontainebleau. The author describes the actual state of the castle but also writes about the history ( cronicle) of the castle. Of the 9 finely executed full page engravings 8 depict the fountains designed by Tommaso Francini. The engavings are by Abraham Bosse and Michel Lasne. The ninth engravings is the important contemporary bird's eye view of the castle. The book also includes a description of the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci at Fontainebleau, in particular the Mona Lisa, purchased by king François I. (pp 135-136). (See Berlin Katalog N° 2460 , not in Millard, nor Fowler)."‎

Reference : 47120

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