Bibliotheque Universelle Des Dames

Paris: rue d'Anjou, Serpente St., hotel Serpente, d'Anjou-Dauphine [Jacques Perrin], 1785-1797. Leatherbound. Very good. 148 vols. (of a 156 vol. set). 13 cm full leather bindings with gilt and green labels on spines, gilt trimmed boards. Set consists of books from two different binding designs. Marbled endpapers. Includes 2 volumes of "Atlas" which consist of 31 plates with maps from around the world (originally 36 plates). FRENCH language text. Ex-library with bookplates and labels affixed to front endpapers. Bindings show wear with bumped corners and edges, some torn spines with some missing labels or pieces of leather missing. A few cracked hinges. All bindings remain intact with secured boards. Inside, contents are consistent of a single edition, the pages are clean and text unmarked. Contents: Atlas pontatif (2 vols.); La poetique de la musique par M. le Comte de la Cepede (2 vols.); Abdeker, ou l'art de conserver la beaute (4 vols.); Geometrie (2 vols.); Trigonometrie (2 vols.); Arithemetique (2 vols.); Physique de l'homme (vol. 1 only); De la femme consideree au physique et au moral par m. Roussel (2 vols.); Romans (vols. 1-11); Melanges (vols. 1-15); Astronomie par de la Lande (vol. 1 only); Physique generale par M. Sigaud de Lafond (vols. 1-5); Botonique (2 vols.); de Chimie par M. de Fourcroy ( 2 vols.); Voyages (vols. 1-19); Morale (vols. 1-14, 16-17); Theatre (vols. 1-13); Medicine domestique, ou moyens simples de conserver sa sante par M. Roussel (vols. 1-3); Physique generale, par M. Sigaud de Lafond (vols. 1, 3-5); Economique Rurale et domestique par M. Parmentier (vols. 1-8); Algebre (vols. 1-3); Histoire (Vols. 1-23, 25-30).

The Universal Women's Library was produced to provide an audience of upper class women general knowledge from a variety of learned fields that represent both the humanities and the sciences. 8 volumes are missing for a complete set. It should be noted that the set was published in France in the years leading up to, during and following the French Revolution. In spite of the political and social turmoil, it managed to remain in press and distributed to its various subscribers throughout that period. Originally, the volumes were published fortnightly over a twelve year period. As with most books of the period, volumes were provided unbound to subscribers of the series who would have been responsible for their own bindings. The complex issue of ownership is highlighted in this set's two complementary but unique leather binding designs.