M. Villemain - Nouveaux Mélanges historiques et littéraires Provenance historique remarquable – Collège royal - 1827-1827

New Historical and Literary Mélanges – Villemain – 1827 – 2 volumes – Prize bindings of the Royal College Henri-IV – Principal's signature (1834)

Rare pair of two ancient volumes published in 1827, from the prestigious Royal College Henri-IV of Paris, today Lycée Henri-IV.

The two works feature period bindings in brown leather, adorned with gilding and stamped at the center with the arms of the Royal College Henri-IV, surrounded by a laurel wreath.

Bibliographical description

- Author: Abel-François Villemain (1790-1870), member of the Académie française.
- Title: Nouveaux Mélanges historiques et littéraires.
- Edition: Paris, Ladvocat, 1827.
- Printer: Imprimerie de Fain, rue Racine, place de l'Odéon, Paris.
- Volume I: 395 pages.
- Volume II: 446 pages.
- Overall: 2 volumes bound in period style.

The first volume notably includes a remarkable engraved portrait of Michel de L’Hospital.

Remarkable historical provenance – Royal College Henri-IV

The two volumes feature prize bindings with the gilded arms of the Royal College Henri-IV in Paris, a highly prestigious institution during the Restoration.

One of the volumes retains a handwritten dedication dated 9 August 1834, rewarding a student for conduct and diligence during the 1833-1834 school year.

This inscription is accompanied by a handwritten signature attributed with high probability to Arsène-Ambroise-Joseph Liez (1790-1838), headmaster of the Royal College Henri-IV from 1833 to 1838.

This chronological concordance is a particularly interesting element for the history of French education in the 19th century.

The attribution of the signature remains to be confirmed by comparison with a reference autograph.

Bindings and condition

Old brown leather bindings, with gilded frames and institutional emblems stamped on the boards.

The covers show an aged patina, rubbing, stains and wear to corners, joints and borders.

The pages show foxing and some signs of aging, typical for works of nearly 200 years.

The title pages, the engraved portrait and the handwritten dedication are well preserved.

Sold as an entire lot in its antique condition, as presented in the photographs.

Interest for collectors

An especially interesting set combining:
- Two 19th-century literary works dated 1827.
- Prize bindings with the arms of the Royal College Henri-IV.
- A school dedication handwritten in 1834.
- A likely autograph of the headmaster Arsène Liez.
- A tangible testimony to the history of education under the July Monarchy.

Set of two volumes, sold only as a lot.

A beautiful collectible for lovers of old books, institutional bindings, historical school documents and prestigious provenance.