Watch List notes:

Menestrier, Claude-François. HISTOIRE DU REGNE DE LOUIS LE GRAND PAR LES MEDAILLES, EMBLEMES, DEVISES, JETTONS, INSCRIPTIONS, ARMOIRIES, & AUTRES MONUMENS PUBLICS. Paris: Chez Robert Pepie & Chez J.B. Nolin, 1700. Edition Nouvelle, Corigée & augmentée d'un Discours sur la Vie du Roy, & de plusieurs Médailles & Figures. Folio [37.5 by 24 cm], somewhat later full brown crushed morocco, sides paneled in blind; spine with five raised bands, ruled in black; red morocco spine label, gilt; modern endpapers. Entirely engraved title incorporating printer's device; magnificent portrait of the author engraved by Nolin after a painting by P. Simon ad viuum; engraved dedication; engraved allegorical frontispiece; 3, (1) + 6, 5–80 + (8) pages; engraved headpieces, tailpieces and initials; engraved text illustrations of medals and jetons; 50 finely engraved plates, mostly depicting medals, integrated throughout the text, one of them folding and another a double plate bound in on a hinge; 33 + 1 engraved plates of medals following the text. Hinges a bit weak, with spine extremities rubbed; small library stamps to blank margins of authorial portrait; occasional spotting. Overall, a tall, near fine copy. A tall, attractive copy of the final edition of this handsomely produced work on the medals of Louis XIV by the Jesuit Father Menestrier (1631–1705). This rarely encountered final edition illustrates a larger number of pieces than did earlier editions, and was produced with exceptional skill. Still, Menestrier's work became officially obsolete upon the publication of the magnificent Médailles sur les principaux événements du règne de Louis le Grand by the Académie Royale des Médailles et des Inscriptions in 1702. Dekesel M251 (Issue 1). Engel & Serrure 4543. Hirsch 86. Lipsius 258.