Georges Blond; Jeanine Fricker - GRANDS CORSAIRES – Edición Original Numerada – Gautier-Languereau – Mapas Desplegables, Láminas, - 1969

Original numbered edition of Grands Corsaires (Gautier-Languereau, 1969), copy no. 000954 F, printed by Firmin-Didot. Complete copy with color plates, black illustrations on green paper, maps and fold-out illustrations, illustrated glossary, and 28 nautical flags on the cover, spine, and back cover. Collected for its maritime iconography and its belonging to the Jeunes Bibliophiles collection. Highly sought after and increasingly rare in its complete original edition and in good condition.

I present a highly collectible copy of Grands Corsaires, published in 1969 by Gautier-Languereau within the prestigious collection Jeunes Bibliophiles, known for its limited, numbered editions and high typographic quality. This copy bears the number 000954 F, originating from the original numbered edition, a feature that sets it apart from the later reprints of 1971, 1972, and 1974, which circulate more frequently.
The book was printed by the historic house Firmin-Didot, a fundamental imprint in the history of French printing, which adds editorial and artistic value.

Highlighted features of the specimen
Original numbered edition (000954 F)
Year 1969
Printing by Firmin-Didot
Published by Gautier-Languereau
Young Bibliophiles Collection
Complete, with:
High-quality color sheets
Black illustrations on green paper
Fold-out maps (antique cartography)
Naval scenes, portraits, historical ships
Illustrated glossary at the end

On the front cover, spine, and back cover, there are 28 maritime signal flags, a very attractive element for collectors of maritime vexillology.

Historic cover
Includes the reproduction of the famous Map of the Pavilions that nations display at sea (1756), created by Bellin, a Navy engineer and a key figure in 18th-century French cartography. This sheet is considered an iconic piece within maritime history.

Book content
The texts narrate the lives, campaigns, and legends of Europe's great corsairs.
Dragut the Barbarossa
– Francis Drake
Jean Bart
Chevalier de Forbin
– René Duguay-Trouin
– Paul Jones
– Surcouf
The commerce raider cruiser Emden

Each chapter is accompanied by illustrative material gathered especially for this edition: ships, battles, maps, portraits, scenes of boarding, and historical maritime scenes.

Rarity and market context
After the research conducted, it can be affirmed that:
The original numbered edition from 1969 is clearly scarcer than subsequent reprints.
Currently available copies are usually non-numbered reissues or incomplete copies.
The presence of a high number like 000954 F confirms that you belong to the original numbered series, which is very limited and hard to access nowadays.
Complete specimens, with maps and plates intact, very rarely appear on the market.
This places the book in the category of maritime bibliography, ideal for collectors of nautical topics, piracy, historical cartography, and French illustrated editions.

State
The item is in very good condition, with clean pages, solid binding, and plates and maps without apparent damages.

Shipping
It will be shipped with reinforced packaging, sheet protection, and tracking.