HANCARVILLE, Pierre François Hugues d', called Baron d'Hancarville (1719--1805)
Veneres uti observantur in gemmis antiquis.
Lugd. Batavorum; [i.e. London?]: [1780?].
[8], 128, [8] p., engr. t.-pl., XXXV, 36 pl. ; 21.5 cm. (8º)

Anonymous. By P.F. Hugues, called Baron d'Hancarville. Engraved title-page. Half-title reads 'Veneres Et Priapi'. Text in English and French. The preface is unsigned. The work is in two parts, the second having an engraved title-plate reading 'Veneres. Vol. II.' and thirty-five plates numbered 2--36. The plates, ca. three inches by three, are on the versos with brief 'explanatory' (often tongue-in-cheek) text on the facing rectos. In his Preface the compiler observes, 'If any should find fault with my having these figures so small, I'll beg of them to observe, that the smaller they are, the nearer they will be to the original; besides they would have been still more indecent had they been otherwise'. ESTC t135345.

Copy Notes Inscription in pencil on front paste-down Une note manuscrite de l'Abbé Rive attribue ce receuil à d'Harcanville.

Binding C18th tree calf, gilt-ruled borders, gilt-tooled spine with urn motif, red morocco spine-label reading 'Gemma Antiqua'.

Reference Number 437