[mazarin Fronde Bindings Aux Arms Choiseul] Retz - Memoirs. Eo 1717.

RETZ (Jean-François Paul de GONDI, Cardinal of) - Duke of CHOISEUL-STAINVILLE (binding with the arms of). Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz. In Amsterdam and is located in Nancy, at Jean-Baptiste Cusson, 1717. 3 vols. in pt format in-12 (163 x 103 mm) of 1 f. bl., 2 ff. n.fol., 354 pp. and 1 f. bl. ; 1 f. bl., 1 fnfol., 359 pp. and 1 f. bl. ; 1 f. bl., 1 fnfol., 389 pp. and 1 f. bl. Uniform bindings from the period in full blond glazed calf, Jansenist covers, ribbed spines decorated with bold cold fillets, double gilt framing boxes, fleurons and fleurons in gilt dotted lines, golden dotted seedlings, gilt casters, title labels of honey morocco, pieces of old-red morocco volume, golden title, golden volume, golden palette at the head, golden arms and golden fleurdelysée lace at the tail, golden lace on the cuts, red edges. Rare first edition; complete with the three volumes constituting it. Set covered with bindings with the arms of the Duke of Choiseul-Stainville carried at the tail of each of the spines. ''His confessor demanded from Rete the sacrifice of all the passages whose publication could cause a public scandal''. (in Quérard). ''The Memoirs of Retz constitute a partial testimony, no doubt, but often lucid, about his time, and above all, the expression of an individual very attentive to the image he has and gives of himself- even, believing in greatness and associating calculation and passion to the highest degree. Published under the Regency for a public curious about the events of the Fronde, they undoubtedly also contributed, through their very personal character, to inflecting the romantic genre towards the analysis and apologia of the self that we will find in the works of Marivaux and Prévost''. (Henri Coulet). De Bure, Instructive bibliography or treatise on the knowledge of rare and singular books, 5306 - Brunet V, Manual of the bookseller and book lover, 1251 (quoting only an edition of 1731) - In French in the text, n°112 - Quérard VII, La France littéraire, p. 548. Very slight superficial alterations affecting the bindings. Rare foxing in the body of works. Otherwise, very good condition.