Recherches sur les Bibliothèques anciennes et modernes, jusqu'a la Fondation de la Bibliothèque Mazarine, et sur les Causes qui ont favorisé l'accroisement successif du nombre des Livres

BIBLIOTHÈQUE MAZARINE
Large 8vo (198 x 118 mm). [4], vii, [1 blank], 488 pp., one leaf of explanatory text for folding plates, 4 pp. of advertisements at end, and 3 engraved plates (2 folding). With an extensive index. Contemporary light brown calf, by Antoine Chaumont, Paris (with his ticket), gold-tooled outer border with eagles, Pan's head, vase containing flowers and other ornaments, inner border in blind of laurel leaves in arches, flat spine with seven false bands and black morocco title label, gilt edges, blue endpapers, inner dentelles (joints starting). A fine and beautifully bound copy.
First edition of this valuable history of libraries, which offers an overview of the public libraries, especially in France, including those in provincial cities, from the 6th century onwards. A long section is devoted to the foundation and holdings of Bibliothèque Mazarine (Notice historique sur la Bibliothèque Mazarine, pp. [249]-337). The two folding plates depicts the floor plans of that institution. Petit-Radel (1756-1836) was librarian at the Mazarine from 1814 to 1836.
Italian Union Catalogue, IT\ICCU\PARE\016776; OCLC, 2087313.