First edition - Lot 113

First edition SAINT-SIMON (Louis de ROUVROY), Duc de Mémoires de M. le Duc de Saint-Simon, ou l'Observateur véridique, sur le règne de Louis XIV, et sur les premières époques des Règnes suivans (Paris, Buisson ; Marseille, Mossy, 1788). (Followed by) Supplément aux Mémoires de M. le Duc de Saint-Simon, copié fidèlement sur le manuscrit original; ou l'Observateur véridique, sur le règne de Louis XIV, et sur les premières époques du Règne suivant; pour servir de Suite et de Complément aux trois volumes déjà publiés; avec des Notes historiques et critiques (London; Paris, Buisson, 1789). 7 volumes in-8 (3 volumes of Mémoires and 4 of Supplément): pages 5 to 8 of volume I are missing. Printed on blue paper. Contemporary glazed marbled fawn calf, spine ribbed and ornamented, small bumps to two headpieces, one headpiece frayed, red title-pieces, green tomaisons, one bit cracked at head-entry, cold fillet framing the boards, gilt fillet on the edges, dull corners, red edges. Rare first edition, complete with its 4 volumes of often-absent supplements, of the work of France's most famous memoirist, who influenced Stendhal and Proust. Edition prepared by Abbé Soulavie, with a truncated and arranged text. The first complete edition in conformity with the original manuscript was that of Cheruel, published in 1856-58. The publication of the four volumes of the original Suppléments edition, based on the manuscript copy made by Abbé de Voisenon, was intended to complete the Mémoires. The Duc de Saint-Simon wrote his famous Mémoires between 1740 and 1746, when he had retired from the Court; he had been taking notes on what he saw and heard at Court and in the army since he was a teenager. Several manuscript copies remained in the hands of his brother, the Bishop of Metz, for a long time (Michaud).