Nouvelle Bibliothèque de Campagne, ou Choix d’Épisodes intéressans et curieux, Amsterdam and Paris, 1769-1784
A complete twelve-volume, uniformly bound 18th century set assembled contemporarily, of Nouvelle Bibliotheque de Campagne, ou Choix d'Episodes interessans et curieux, a collection of entertaining and instructive extracts drawn from a wide range of earlier French literature.
Issued without a named author, works of this kind were popular in the later eighteenth century, designed to bring together memorable passages, anecdotes, and episodes from both classical and contemporary sources for a general readership. Blending moral reflection with light narrative, they formed part of a broader tradition of cabinet or portable library collections intended for leisurely reading in domestic or rural settings.
The present set is uniformly bound in contemporary tree calf, with gilt-tooled spines and black morocco labels. The bindings show some expected wear and rubbing, particularly at the joints, but remain sound and cohesive across the twelve volumes. Internally the text is clean and well preserved, with some toning to text block edges.
Although uniform in binding and typographic style, the volumes carry varying imprints and dates, including Amsterdam (Changuion) and Paris imprints, and are dated between 1769 and 1784. Such variation is typical of eighteenth-century multi-volume works of this kind, which were often issued, reprinted, and assembled over a period of years, and does not detract from the integrity of the set.
A pleasing and decorative eighteenth-century set, offering both period charm and a glimpse into the reading tastes of the Enlightenment era.
Nouvelle Bibliotheque de Campagne, ou Choix d'Episodes interessans et curieux, tires des meilleurs romans, tant anciens que nouveaux (New Country Library, or a Selection of Interesting and Curious Episodes, drawn from the best novels, both ancient and modern). In twelve volumes, complete.
Published with varying imprints, including: "A Amsterdam, chez Changuion, libraire. Et se trouve a Paris, chez Le Jay, rue S. Jacques, au-dessus de la rue des Mathurins, au Grand Corneille," and Paris imprints including "Chez Antoine Fournier, libraire, rue du Hurepoix," with dates ranging from 1769 to 1784.
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.
Text in French.
Dimensions: each volume approx 175mm high x 103mm wide x 28mm deep.
Weight: approximately 4.17kg (the set - unpacked).