Mercure de France, dédié au roi.

145 vol., 12mo.

Uniformly bound in contemp. mottled sheep, flat spines with gilt cross of Lorraine and marquess crown, red leather title label, red sp. edges, marbl. endpapers (some traces of use: some tears, some joints splitting). Good set, n.c.

Large collection of this famous French gazette and literary magazine. It was published under various titles from 1672 until 1825 and under the name "Mercure de France" from 1724 until 1791. "The magazine's goal was to inform elegant society about life in the court and intellectual/artistic debates; the gazette (which appeared irregularly) featured poems, anecdotes, news (marriages, gossip), theatre and art reviews, songs, and fashion reviews, and it became fashionable (and sometimes scandalous) to be mentioned in its pages." (Wikipedia). Our collection contains almost every vol. published from 1760 to 1778 (mostly 8 vol. per year, with some vol. containing 2 instalments/months), only lacking Juillet 1762, Octobre 1765, Février & Août 1770 and Janvier-Juin 1774. To the 21th-c. reader, it offers a unique glance into French upper society in this very interesting period. Woodcut mark on titles. Ill. with some full-page plates.
Ref. BnF.
Prov. Cross of Lorraine and marquess crown (gilt stamped on spines).