PEIGNOT (Gabriel)

Lot 129
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Estimation :
1500 - 2000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 2 005EUR
PEIGNOT (Gabriel)
Historical and literary research on the dances of the dead and the origin of playing cards. Dijon, Paris, Victor Lagier, 1826. Grand in-8, LX and 367 pp., 1 f.n.ch. (errata): black paperback, double gilt fillet in the frame, original brown printed cover entirely mounted on the covers and spine, smooth spine decorated, untrimmed, original green printed cover covers mounted on the back covers (contemporary binding). Original edition: it is decorated with 5 plates lithographed by Noël after Holbein and Mérian. According to Milsand, the edition was printed in 300 copies on Annonay paper and 10 others on vellum paper. This work, one of the most curious by Gabriel Peignot (1767-1849), is a very complete monograph on the dance of the dead: origin and representation of the iconographic cycle, the various gothic and illustrated editions, etymology of the word macabre, etc.. Precious copy printed on strong buff-coloured paper, with wide margins. The Vicar, who quotes it, does not mention other copies on coloured paper. It comes from the library of Maurice Cohen, with his ex-libris; civil engineer and bibliophile from Rouen, who died in Cahors in 1883 (Milsand, Catalogue des ouvrages imprimés de Peignot, nº 117 - Vicar, VI, col. 470-471). Three autograph letters signed by Gabriel Peignot have been bound at the head. Each of 3 pages in-8, they are all related to the work and addressed to Philippe Durand de Lançon (1789-1869), receiver of finances and founding member of the Société des bibliophiles françois. In one of them, dated December 20, 1824, Peignot, in the midst of writing his opuscule, writes: I do not have a moment to myself, although I get up every day at 4 a.m. and do not leave my Cabinet until 5 p.m.. I would like to be able to extend the days by six hours and have the strength to use them again; but I feel that health does not respond to courage, or at least to willpower. ... The work I have done on my dances of death ...
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