Item #421 Catalogue d’un nombreuse collection de Livres Anciens Rare et Curieux. Gabriel Peignot.
Catalogue d’un nombreuse collection de Livres Anciens Rare et Curieux.
Library of the Master

Catalogue d’un nombreuse collection de Livres Anciens Rare et Curieux.

Paris: Chez J. Techener, Libraire, 1852. Item #421

8vo.  213 x130 mm. (8 ¼ x 5 ¼ inches).  [viii], 5 35 pp.  Contemporary nineteenth century calf spine over marbled paper boards, gilt spine leather label; some cracking to the joints, but a sound copy.


Important collection of one of France’s most important bibliographical scholars and authors, including over 4,400 items in all fields of history, literature, and science.  Organized in four parts, Theology and Religion. Science and Arts, Belle Lettres, and History, the collection like the bibliographer himself, concentrated on very rare and little-known books and is considered a reference work by many in the field. 


Peignot (1767-1849) was one of the most famous bibliographers of his time.  According to Pierre Larousse author and publisher of the standard reference book, La Grand Encyclopédique,


“Peignot was the most learned bibliographer of this century. His learning was immense. To in-depth science books, he joined informed criticism. [...] His bibliographic taste had become a passion of which old books were mainly the object. This spiritual, gay, hard-working, selfless scholar composed innumerable small writings, most printed in small numbers, and much sought by curious; they dealt with spiky or little known features.”


 Perhaps Peignot’s most important work was his edition of Répertoire bibliographique universel published in 1812.  Breslauer and Folter lists the book and comment, “The first bibliography of bibliographies with critical commentaries, listing selected subject bibliographies and public and private catalogues.  It is probably the most useful of many fine bibliographies by this prolific littérateur, some of which are on very esoteric subjects such as his brief list of books on colored paper.  He was the author of over forty titles and has been called the Master by many contemporary bibliographers.


Breslauer & Folter, Bibliography, Its History and Development, No. 120.

Price: $850.00

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