DURDENT, [René-Jean]. ~ Époques et faits mémorables de l’histoire de France: depuis l’origine de la monarchie jusqu’a l’arrivé de Louis XVIII dans sa capitale... Paris: [Imbert for] Alexis Eymery, 1814.
12mo (165 × 95 mm), pp. 1-288, 299-428 (complete despite mispagination, with half-title) plus 8 engraved plates, all hand coloured. Some light browning. Contemporary tree sheep, gilt panelled spine, green morocco label. Very slightly rubbed. Contemporary stencilled manuscript bookplate: ‘Camille Villars’. An excellent copy.
First edition of a popular Royalist history of France, issued against the background of the first Restoration of the French monarchy — Louis XVIII (dubbed Louis ‘Le desiré’ by his followers) had taken the throne in May 1814. Several editions followed, but the first is notably rare. The frontispiece depicts Louis receiving the Order of the Garter from British Prince Regent as he prepared to return to France from his exile in England. The text includes supplementary accounts of literature and the arts.