[Vues, marches, entrées, passages et autres sujets servant à l'histoire de Louis XIV].

3 vols, large folio : 80 plates mounted on stubs totalling 138 engravings (sm. stamps on verso of 1st plates in each vol., vol. "XVII" dampstained throughout with some pl. heavily brown., vol. "XVIII" only sl. brown.).

Contemp. marbled calf, gilt triple fillet and coat-of-arms on covers (corners sl. bumped, very minor scuffing, arms of vol. "XVII" dam.), richly gilt spines on 7 raised bands with gilt crowned monogram (sl. def. tails), gilt titled labels (2 defect.), spine numbering "XVI-XVIII", a.e.g. In general excellent copy.

Magnificent monumental work and splendid presentation copy with arms of Louis XV on covers, glorifying the reign of Louis XIV, King of France. The plates were engraved by various engravers i.a. Bonnard, Van Schuppen, Bauduins, etc., after paintings by Van der Meulen (Brussels 1632-Paris 1690), particularly known for his scenes of military campaigns and conquests; he also created designs for prints and cartoons for tapestries of the Gobelins manufactury. He followed the King in all his travels and military campaigns and his paintings helped to build the propagandistic image of the French king as the "Roi Soleil". Printed on strong paper in strong and neat impressions, the plates were, on initiative of Colbert, Minister of Finance under the Rule of Louis XIV, integrated in the series "Cabinet du Roi", often used as royal presents. Present are besides a full page magnificent portrait of the King engraved by Van Schuppen after N. de Largillière, large folding double or triple very animated plates printed on 2 leaves depicting royal travels, hunts or military actions with views of cities, castles or neighbourhood of i.a. Fontainebleau, Vincennes, Versailles ("comme il estoit cy-devant"), Kortrijk, Douai, Oudenaarde, Tournai, Dole, Maastricht, Cambray, Zoutleeuw, Calais, Luxemburg, some places in Franche-Comté including Besançon, Dunkerke, Béthune, Arras, Dinant, Valenciennes, etc. Besides the large spectacular plates, vol. "XVIII" also presents single plates or plates representing 2, 3 or more subjets, some oval or circular, including beautiful landscapes, gardens, architectural views, fighting horsemen, studies of horses, etc. Ref. Brunet I-1444. Olivier 2495, 2.