1889 MEMOIRS COUNT GRAMMONT 2VLS LTHR 113 ILLS #751 CPY

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(PICS BELOW DESCRIPTION) MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT Anthony Hamilton, Edited by Sir Walter Scott; 1889; First Edition Thus; London, John C. Nimmo; Profusely Illustrated by L. Boisson, C. Delort, (Extra Illustrated); Full Leather; Brentano's Bindery Co.; 396 Total Pages; 7.6"x 10.4"; Very Rare; NO RESERVE!!! Great for any History/Biography/Royalty Fan or Collector. Excellent on a Shelf, Complete in Two Volumes!!! Only 780 Copies Issued for England and America, This Set Being #751; Seen selling for over $900.00!!! Attributes: Two Gorgeous, sleek Full Green Leather Cover Designs bound by Brentano's with gold borders, ornate gold bindings, gold gilding to cover/inner cover edges, gold page edges, maroon end pages with Two Lovely Frontispieces; 33 Etchings Laid down on Inida Paper and 80 other Brilliant Portrait and Views/Places Illustrations throughout, some pasted on, with a Great Two-Page Plate and Foldout, and a Fascinating Read; Impressive Sizes and Craftsmanship!!! Background: Philibert, comte de Gramont ( 1621 – 10 January 1707), the subject of the famous Mémoirs , came of a noble Gascon family, said to have been of Basque origin He was eighty years old when he supplied his brother-in-law, Antoine Hamilton , with the materials for his, Mémoires . Hamilton said that they had been dictated to him, but no doubt he was the real author. The account of Gramont's early career was doubtless provided by himself, but Hamilton was probably more familiar with the history of the court of Charles II, which forms the most interesting section of the book. Moreover Gramont, though he had a reputation for wit, was no writer, and there is no reason to suppose that he was capable of producing a work which remains a masterpiece of style and of witty portraiture. When the Mémoires were finished it is said that Gramont sold the manuscript for 1500 francs; and kept most of the money himself. Fontenelle , then censor of the press, refused to license the book from considerations of respect to the strange old man, whose gambling, cheating and meannesses were so ruthlessly exposed. But Gramont himself appealed to the chancellor and the prohibition was removed. He died on 10 January 1707, and the Mémoires appeared six years later. His biographer Hamilton was far superior to the comte de Gramont, but he relates the story of his hero without comment, and no condemnation of the prevalent code of morals is allowed to appear, unless by an occasional touch of irony. The portrait is drawn with such skill that the count, in spite of his biographer's candour, imposes by his grand air on the reader much as he appears to have done on his contemporaries. The book is the most entertaining of contemporary memoirs, and in no other book is there a description so vivid, truthful, and graceful of the licentious court of Charles II. There are other and less flattering accounts of the count. His scandalous tongue knew no restraint, and he was a privileged person who was allowed to state even the most unpleasing truths to Louis XIV. An English edition by Sir Walter Scott was published by G. Bohn (1846), and this with additions was reprinted in 1889, 1896, etc. Condition: Conditions are Good+/Very Good. Some wear to edges, some glue/color added to hinges, holding but would handle with care some flaking, a few light marks to boards, pages are very good, few dings to spines, small spotting here or there, text blocks are excellent. Overall, for over 120 years old they're in Good+/Very Good Condition!!! Be sure to add me to your favorites list !!!PICTURES BELOW!!=======================================================When you think of buying a book, think about what you would normally pay for one at a normal bookstore nowadays, typically $20.00 to $30.00 for a book with no craftsmanship and history, no mystique, most that I try and sell are truly a work of art in of themselves, as well as a Great In... read more

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