Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens - Mémoires du Marquis d'Argens - 1807

Short description: “Mémoires du Marquis d’Argens” (edition 1807),

This autobiographical collection of letters and anecdotes is a fascinating testimony of the French Enlightenment. The work combines the author’s vivid life story—from a turbulent youth filled with love affairs and military adventures—with a sharp portrait of 18th-century mores. With much satire and philosophical skepticism in the Voltairean style, the Marquis d’Argens criticizes the society of his time and provides intimate insights into the French royal court under Louis XV. This edition is complemented by a historical introduction that illuminates his later role as a close confidant, chamberlain, and academy director of Frederick the Great in Berlin and Sanssouci.

Bibliographic data (Collation & Format):

• Format: In-Octavo (8º), approx. 20 x 13 cm.

• Collation: VIII pages (Foreword/Historique notice by J. Peuchet) + 426 pages

• Formula: 8º: VIII, 426 S.

Cover and spine (Description)

• Binding type: This is a half parchment binding (also known as half-binding in parchment style) of the period. The spine and corners are made of light parchment (or sturdy, light paper in parchment imitation), while the boards are covered with brown marbled cover paper.

• Spine: The parchment of the spine has darkened and shows stains as well as light soiling. At the upper end the title “Mémoires du marquis d'Argens” has been handwritten in old ink by hand (greatly faded, but readable). At the lower spine there is an old signature or archive number (2170).

• Boards: The brown cover paper on the boards is heavily rubbed, particularly at the edges and corners, where the underlying carrier board (the gray board) is partially exposed. There are superficial scratches and losses in the paper.

Book block and cut

• Book block: The book block is stable, but the side view shows a slight looseness of the binding at the front hinge (the binding holds, but is strained).