Dupuy Demportes - Le Gentilhomme Cultivateur - 1762

DUPUY DEMPORTES, Monsieur — [HALL, M.]
The Gentleholder Farmer, or Complete Body of Agriculture.
Paris, P. G. Simon, Durand, Bauche, Le Prieur; Bordeaux, Chapuis the elder, 1762.

A splendid, evenly structured series of 14 volumes (out of 16) in quarto format, rebound in contemporary morocco-backed calf, with spine panels and gilt-tooled compartments, red morocco title and volume labels, marbled edges. Spines well preserved, gilding still bright, and magnificent title pieces. There are only minor signs of wear at some joints or corners, but the overall appearance is extremely decorative. Title page printed in black, with a substantial textual illustration and the joint mention of the Parisian and Bordeaux booksellers.

All the plates present are in photographic reproduction.

Fresh and well preserved, enhanced by superb folding engraved plates in very sharp relief showing the art of building, cultivating, and tending to animals. The work is richly illustrated with numerous folding plates outside the text showing architectural plans of farms, wine-cellar arrangements, stables, farm tools, as well as anatomical plates and veterinary care (notably for horses).

Translated from the English of Mr. Hall and considerably enriched by Monsieur Dupuy Demportes (of the Academy of Florence), this vast agronomy treatise published in 1762 sits squarely at the heart of the physiocratic movement and the Enlightenment-era enthusiasm for the rational improvement of agriculture and rural economy. It speaks to landowners eager to optimize the management of their estates according to the most innovative methods of the time.

A very fine collection.