A rarity - Lot 315

A rarity DRALET (Etienne François) Traité des forêts d'arbres résineux, et des terrains adjacens, sur les montagnes de la France ; ouvrage faisant suite à la 2ème édition du Traité de l'Aménagement des Bois et Forêts. Toulouse, Viesseux, 1820. In-12: XII, 271pp, (1). Author's autograph letter to Baron Barrairon. Tribute copy in contemporary long-grained green morocco, smooth spine decorated with double gilt fillets, central iron on spine depicting a fountain, garland of floral motifs framing the boards with fleurs-de-lis in spandrels, gilt roulette on edges and inside, gilt edges. A fine copy. First edition of this rare work, which follows on from "Traité de l'aménagement des bois et forêts", first published in Toulouse in 1807. It deals at length with the Pyrenees, their forest species and their deforestation to make ship masts. Étienne François DRALET (1760-1844) made his first trip to the Basque country in 1784, then returned to the Pyrenees and took part in the famous Tuquerouye expedition with RAMOND and LAPEYROUSE. In 1800, he became head of the Toulouse Forestry Department, and travelled extensively in the Pyrenees. In addition to his classic "Description des Pyrénées" (1813), he published a number of works on trees. "His influence was considerable. He was one of the most complete French forestry writers of his time. An enlightened encyclopedic mind, he played a leading role in the Southwest. Provenance: A copy given by Dralet to Baron de Barrairon (1746-1820), French politician, supernumerary of the Ferme Générale, commissioner administrator, director in the administration of estates and then director general of registration and estates in the Ministry of Finance. When the Forestry Administration was attached to the Ministry of Finance in May 1817, he became Director General of Forests. Dralet offered this copy in 1820, and it was bought by Mr. Marone in 1821 on the death of Baron de Barrairon. There is at least one second copy with the same binding, which Dralet must have ordered as a tribute.