1771 Almanach Royal, Presente a Sa Majeste. Chez Breton, Paris. Brocade papers.

A beautiful 1771 Almanach Royal, bound in contemporary rich red morocco, with impressive gilding including remarkably handsome gold brocade endpapers.

The Almanach Royal was first published in 1699 and continued for nearly a century. By this middle/late 18th century printing, the book was filled with many, many points of interest, ranging from astronomical to social. There are lists of nobility, but also considerations of the seasons. A wide-ranging annual for the aristocracy of 18th century France.

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 20 x 12.5 x 3.5 cm. Red morocco binding. Boards framed by triple gilt fillet with corner florets. The spine is with five raised bands, and six compartments; four compartments have a central fleur-de-lis, corner fleur-de-lis and are framed in gilt. Two compartments with the title and year in gilt, framed in gilt. A fleur-de-lis/flower alternating roll in double at bottom of spine and a single roll at top.

Board edges ruled in gilt. Turn-ins rolled with a palm-leaf gilt design.

All edges gilt (AEG). Green and white endbands. Green silk place-keeping ribbon.

Gilt brocade endpapers.

Title page engraving of the royal arms.

Pages - (1 - blank), 587 pages, (1 - blank).

Condition -

See pictures. Light edge and corner wear. The top of the spine, and the corners were so expertly repaired that you'd never notice unless you were looking for it. Gilt bright on top-edge, silk tie still connected to endband (dust typically eats this connection).

Modern armorial ex-libris on pastedown. Many bookseller notes on verso of flyleaf, and recto of blank front endpaper. Pin hole in blank front endpaper. Occasional toning and fox/rust spots throughout. Occasional thumbing. Bottom corner missing from blank paper between September and October calendar pages. Small worm hole from p297-325, marginal only (bottom). Mostly a beautiful book, still retaining healthy shine.