New-York tribune., 1901-03-30
THE VILLENEUVE LIBRARY.
SALE OF THE BOOKS OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE soCIETE DES BIBLIOPHlLES
FRANCAIS IN PARIS.

Paris. March 10
portion Of the library Of NJ. de Fieneuve
president Of the Societe des Bibliophiles Fran
Gals sold at auction last year attracted unusual
attention from book collectors in Europe ana
the United States. The sale of the second ana
remaining part of NJ de Villeneuve's library is
announced to take place March %. at the
Hotel Drouot and will continue during the
week The opinion Of amateurs here is that this
second lot forms the most important collection
of original editions of the great French classic
authors that has ever been made. Among the
rare foreign works in the collection are j.
Stobei Sententie, 1913. bound in mosaic. bear
ing the initials of Thomas Maiol: "Aulu-Gelle.
1885" bound in separate panels Of the style OF
the sixteenth century: Les Idylles de Theocrite.
1858" and Les Idylles de Bion ct de Moschus.
16S6'-two volumes bound by Boyer with the
marks of Longepierre, the translator.
The collection is rich in rare and precious
editions Of the French poets. extending from
Alain Charter TO Marot and to the Pleiade
Malherbe is represented by the original edition
of 1890 bearing the coat of arms OF De Ihou'
the unfortunate companion of Clnq-Mars.
There is a beautiful and we'll preserved edition
Of La Muse Historique de Loret," bearing the
arms OF Mazarin COrnee. Moliere, Racine and
Regnard are absolutely complete. One finds all
the original collected editions of their works.
and fragments of those writer's that appeared
separately. The Moliere collection is most re-
markable and includes the edition Of 16S2 which
belonged to La Reynle. lieutenant of police
Of which only three other copies are known TO
exist. This edition once formed part Of the
library of NJ. Armand Bertin. and when the Ber-
tin collection was sold 1t was purchased by
N. de Montalivet. from whom it came TO his
son-in-law. NJ. de Villeneuve. the present owner.
Among the original editions Of Racine is that
of Esther in quarto bearing the arms of the
Marquise de Maintenon. There is also a superb
edition of La Celestine." 1913, one of the chef
d'euvres Of Spanish theatrical literature This
work. which is in a perfect state Of preserva-
tion, bears the initials and arms OF Louis XIII
and OF Anne OF Austria.
The Vileneuve collection also contains a vast
number of novels. Among these may be men
toned "L'Astree." by Habert de Montfort: lie
Roman Comique." of Scarron, in the original
edition, OF which there only four or five
copies extant: "Zaide" and La Princesse de
Cleves." "Gn Bias" editions Of 11l5. 1135 and
1741; 'Manon LescaUt," edition Of 1II3 copy
bound over pamphlet covers as originally Is
sued). Among the ep!stolaires those which
merit special mention are "Ciceron." l1S2. In
double morocco. with the arms OF Comte
dHoym. and 'Pline." 1868 bound by lie Gascon,
with the arms and initials of d'Elie du Fresnoy.
There are some very valuable and rare histor
ical works. especially those relating 10 the city
OF Paris 20 it's great municipal fetes, the cere
moniaI entries OF the kings Of France, and TO
their coronations all Of which are beautifully
. illustrated. The books are all in excellent con-
dtion IN looking at the collection OF VI. de
Villeneuve one recognizes the delicate and
severe choice OF a man OF taste passionately
fond of his books {. l. Is.