Maroquin signed Mercier - Lot 381

Maroquin signed Mercier HAMILTON (Antoine) Memoirs of the Comte de Grammont. Preface by H. Gausseron. Paris, Conquet, 1888. Large in-8; illustrated with a portrait of Hamilton and 33 compositions by C. Delort, engraved with burin and etching by L. Boisson. Limited edition of 700 copies, one of 200 choice copies, on papier japon and vélin du Marais (n°20). Contains 3 states of all engravings. Doubled red morocco signed G. MERCIER succ. de son père, ornate navettes spine, wide framing of fillets and roulettes with fleurs-de-lis in spandrels, filleted edges, midnight blue morocco countersides with gilt plate in framing, red silk endpapers, gilt edges. Protective ½ red morocco folder with ribbed spine, sheathed slipcase. A very fine copy with full margins. Philibert, Chevalier then Comte de GRAMONT (1621-1701) was Hamilton's brother-in-law. A gambling cheat and libertine, he took part in the siege of Turin, fought in Flanders, and was exiled by the King for "having wanted to pose as a rival to his master with the maid of honor La Motte-Houdancourt".