Basnage de Beauval/ Reliure aux Armes de Varenne de Fenille - Histoire des Ouvrages des Savans Mois de Janvier... Décembre - 1699

Binding with the coat of arms of Varenne, Philibert-Charles-Marie, 1730-1794, agronomist specialist in forestry, from 1757 receiver of finances from the generality of Bresse, Bugey, Pays de Gex.

Copy from the library of Dr Eugène Olivier (1881-1964),
bibliophile, heraldist, co-author of the Manuel de l'amateur des reliures armoriées
françaises, the “Bible” on the subject, known as the “Olivier.”

With his bookplate in red, engraved by Rouveyre (1913).

Facing it on the front inner cover is the engraved bookplate belonging to Fenille: “Azur, with two gold trangles accompanied by three half-wings argent” bearing the inscription “Mr de Fenille", and signed "Durand".


Includes the entire year of 1699 of the quarterly periodical Histoire des ouvrages des Savans founded and written by Henri Basnage de Beauval.

Period full calfskin binding, spine with raised bands adorned with a morocco label and lovely gilded tooling (faded gilding). Double bands framing the boards with the beautiful gold-stamped coat of arms.
Sturdy volume, split joints, damaged corners. Interior in very good condition despite several small dampstains on the border and some light signs of handling.

Monsieur B***
Histoire des Ouvrages des Savans... Mois de Janvier...- Décembre 1699
Rotterdam : Chez Reinier Leers, 1699 duodecimo (13.5x7.5) in 4 parts with continuous pagination, each has its own title page. 549 + table and errata (complete).


Histoire des ouvrages des Savans founded and written by Henri Basnage de Beauval with the collaboration of Jacques Basnage, P. Bayle an M. de La Poterie and the correspondents among whom in particular can be found G.W. Leibniz, Cl. Nicaise, H. Sloane, J.G. Graevius, F. Janiçon et G. Cuper. Excerpts from their letter can be found in the section “extraits de diverses lettres.”

With regard to the content, Henri Basnage promises in his preface to continue the editorial policy of Pierre Bayle's Nouvelles de la République des Lettres, of which he claims to be the direct successor. He would therefore publish “toutes les circonstances qui regarderont les Sçavans dont nous aurons connoissance, non seulement après leur mort, mais aussi pendant leur vie, afin de remplir nostre dessein sans qu'il en coûte des pleurs à la République des Lettres.”

In fact, Basnage’s journal was made up of in particular of accounts, some memoirs and tributes and (which is very original for the time) a section of literary short stories taken from the author’s correspondence with his friends. This last section can be found at the end of each issue.

Main authors studied: A. Arnauld, J. Basnage, P. Bayle, E. Benoist, J.B. Bossuet, G. Burnet, A. et A. Dacier, L.E. Dupin, Fénelon, P. Jurieu, J. Laplacette, J. Locke, P. Quesnel, R. Simon, S. Le Nain de Tillemont, J. Toland, A. Varillas.