MEMOIRS OF COUNT GRAMMONT A New Translation, With Notes and Illustrations

First Edition thus, and considered one of the best of the English editions of the work. This copy with fine provenance, having the handsome engraved bookplate of Sir Mayson M. Beeton; Secretary of the Anti-Bounty League and Special Commissioner for 'The Daily Mail' in the West Indies. Beeton was an accomplished editor and author as well, and was the son of England's most perfect housewife, Mrs. Beeton, famed author of books on cooking and household management. With 76 finely engraved portraits of the principle characters mentioned in the work. Thick 4to, very handsomely bound in full contemporary period mottled and polished calf, the covers with double gilt filleted ruling at the borders, joined with corner tools, the spine with gilt hatched raised bands between beautifully gilt tooled compartments, two compartments gilt lettered, gilt hatched board edges, wide gilt tooled turn-ins, fine marbled endpapers, and a.e.g. engraved title, iii, [1], 363, [1], lxxxiv, [3] pp. A handsome copy, the text-block is solid and sound and appears to have been little used, there is some spotting to the free-flies but otherwise, the book is remarkably clean and very fresh with just a bit of toning occasionally encountered, some offset from the portraits as is usual. The handsome binding rebacked preserving the original gilt decorated spine panel, the hinges are strong and secure.

Edizione: considered the best english edition of one of the best-selling "tell all" memoirs of the eighteenth century. philibert, count de grammont was a french courtier and soldier who, it was said, in his old age related these memoirs to his brother-in-law, anthony hamilton. hamilton however was the actual author for at least a significant portion of the work.<br> the memoirs provide an interesting look into the court of charles ii, and are a masterpiece of style and of witty portraiture. the account of grammont's early career was doubtless provided by himself, but hamilton was more familiar with the court of charles?ii, which forms the most interesting part of the book. hamilton was also the far superior writer, which is further indication of his authorship. count grammont's is arguably the most entertaining of the many memoirs published in that period of time, and in no other book will one find a more vivid, truthful, and graceful account of the licentious court of charles ii.