Le Petit Carrillonneur, M. Ducray-Duminil, J.G. Dentu, Paris, 1809

A complete four-volume set of Le Petit Carrillonneur by M. Ducray-Duminil, published in Paris by J.G. Dentu in 1809. One of the author’s characteristic moral and sentimental narratives, the work follows a young bell-ringer through adversity and concealed origins to eventual resolution, reflecting the didactic and emotionally driven fiction popular in early nineteenth-century France.

Although widely read in its time, such works are now more often encountered in incomplete or mixed sets. The present example is complete in four volumes, each retaining its engraved frontispiece, and preserved in a uniform contemporary binding of mottled calf with gilt decoration and morocco labels. Sets surviving in this condition are increasingly uncommon.

Le Petit Carrillonneur, by M. Ducray-Duminil. In four volumes, complete.

Published by J.G. Dentu, Paris, 1809. An early edition (possible first edition). In four volumes, complete.

A very good set of 4 hardback volumes, bound in attractive mottled calf leather, with gilt ruled panel lines, tooled gilt spines and dark olive morocco title labels. The darker Volume number labels are largely worn away. Gilt decoration to board edges. Lightly rubbed to joints and soundly bound. A handsome set.

Provenance: From the library at Rossie Priory, the Perthshire seat of the Kinnaird family, Lords Kinnaird, a long-established Scottish family active in parliamentary, civic, and reforming circles during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Each volume bears the Kinnaird bookplate to the front pastedown.

Some endpapers have spotting/ foxing and some staining to the last few pages of Volume I. Overall however, the text is very good - generally bright and clean throughout, with red tinted edges to text block. Occasional minor flaws such as cracked endpaper, offsetting from engravings, two marginal corner tears in Vol II, and one blank endpaper removed.

An attractive set.

Text in French.

Vol. I: (ii) + frontispiece + (i) + 294pp;

Vol. II: (ii) + frontispiece + (i) + 296pp;

Vol. III: (ii) + frontispiece + (i) + 288pp;