Bidspirit auction | Title page and engraving for

Title page and engraving for the 1837 edition of Les douze femmes de rhétorique. - Moulins. P.A.Desrosiers fils, 1837. Two engravings on one sheet; size 49.5 x 32.5 cm. the Sheet is worn and yellowed around the perimeter; rare temporary spots; a trace of moisture on the right edge; the sheet was folded in half; in the lower right corner of the printer's Congreve: ”P. A. Desrosters fils a Mouline. L'ancien Bourbonnais.”; [probably a signal copy]. Engravings by the French master Chenavard Schaal (Schaal). The book was prepared for printing and published by Louis Batisser (batisser, Louis) in Moulins in 1838. [”Les douze dames de rhétorique” (”the Twelve ladies of rhetoric”) is a literary correspondence of 1464-65 between Jean Roberts, Secretary of the Duke of Bourbon, Jean II; Georges Chatellin, historiographer of Philip the Good, and Jean de Montferrand, adviser and Manager at the court of Burgundy. The letters are accompanied by a series of poetic descriptions of the twelve companions of the lady of rhetoric. The manuscript belonged to Philip of Cleves, who probably received it from his father. Moulins (French: Moulins [mu. lɛ]) is a city in Central France, a Prefecture (administrative center) and the third largest city in the Allier Department. Historical capital of the Dukes of Bourbon and the former province of Bourbonnais. The name translates as ”mills”.]