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HANCARVILLE, Pierre François Hugues d', called Baron d'Hancarville (1719--1805)
Recherches sur l'origine, l'esprit et les progrès des arts de la Grèce; sur leurs connections avec les arts et la religion des plus anciens peuples connus; sur les monumens antiques de l'Inde, de la Perse, du reste de l'Asie, de l'Europe et de l'Égypte. Tome premier. (... second.)
A Londres (Place), chez B. Appleyard, libraire,, 1785 [i.e. 1784].
2 vols ; 28.8 cm. (4°)
I: [2], xxviii, 510 p., XXIX pl. (i.e. 32: bis pl. VIII, XVII, XXV; 1 fold.) : [2] engr. illus.
II: [2], 480 p., XXXIV pl. (i.e. 34: bis pl. VIII, IX; 7 fold.) : [1] engr. illus.

Published anonymously; although dated 1785 the two volumes were apparently published in late 1784. D'Hancarville is identified as the author in extracts from The New Review for January 1785 included in the Supplement published in the same year (q.v.). The Frenchman Pierre François Hugues, self-styled Baron d'Hancarville, is better known as the cataloguer of Sir William Hamilton's collection of antiquities compiled during the 1760s (q.v.). Here he attempts to trace common themes in the history of the various cults and mythologies, particularly pagan fertility rites. The title-pages exist in two states, one as here and other (probably later) with 'Connection' corrected to 'Connexion' in one or both volumes. Plate XV additionally numbered B.XVI. BAL, Early printed books, no. 1569; ESTC t149974.

Copy Notes Volume I inscribed in ink on front free-endpaper John Soane./ L. I. Fields/ Beauty. p. XXII/ Terme - - p. 11/ Pottery. origin p. 11. Volume II inscribed in pencil on rear pastedown Psyche p. 37. Both volumes with some pencil notes and marks of emphasis in margins and notes on plates in ink and pencil giving page references to text. Volume I p. 57 additionally has a marginal pencil sketch copied from pl. V figure VIII.B.

Binding C18th mottled calf, gilt roll-tool borders, gilt-tooled spines with Greek key and floral motifs, black and green morocco spine-labels. Uniform with the Supplément aux recherches, 1785 (q.v.). This is probably the set of 'Donkerville 3 Vols' bound by J. Wingrave for £1 7s. on 11 May 1805, paid 17 May 1805. (Spiers Box, Misc. Booksellers).

Reference Number 2496

Additional Names Hugues, Pierre François


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