Histoire de France

Paris: Librairie Hatchette, 1898 . Leather. Near Fine. 7" by 4.5". None. A beautifully presented, two volume set surrounding the history of France, with vignette illustrations throughout. In a beautiful green full calf binding with gilt tooling to the spine. With a gilt coat of arms to the front board of Dean Close School, which was founded in Cheltenham in 1886. The twentieth edition of the work. First published in 1856. This two-volume set was compiled and published by a society of academics and teachers, under the direction of French historian and statesman, Victor Duruy. This work depicts many different political and historical events, including the Siege de Metz, 1970 and the Battle de Fribourg, 1644, as well as information on a number of influential figures, such as Charles II, known as Charles le Chauve, and French government official Jacques Coeur. Also included are historical depictions of buildings, such as the Palais de Justice and Cathédrale d'Amiens. With a gilt inscription to front cover of 'Verbum dei Lucerna', which is the motto for Dean Close School, meaning 'God's word, a guiding light. With five folding maps to the rear of volume one and a further five maps to the rear of volume two.Vignette illustrations throughout. Ink inscriptions of J. M. E. Mandel, to the reverse of the front endpaper. In a full green calf binding, with gilt to the spine and to the boards. Externally, excellent, with light rubbing to the joints and minor bumping to the extremities. Light fading to the spine and to the extremities. Hinge slightly strained but firm to volume two, with a crack after the front endpaper. Ink inscription to the reverse of the front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. The odd small closed tear to the maps to the rear of the work. Near Fine