Wanted - Small print run of 50 copies - Lot 404

Wanted - Small print run of 50 copies LABLOTTIÈRE (François de) - ROUSSEL Légendes de tous les cols, ports et passages des Pyrénées (1716-1719). Published from manuscripts by Jean Escarra, with the collaboration of Ludovic Gaurier, François Marsan, Alphonse Meillon, Director of the "Bulletin Pyrénéen", Comte de Saint-Saud, Bernard Sarrieu. Pau, Garet-Haristoy, 1915. In-8: X, (1), 369pp; 5 folding maps and a folding plate of the "Légende du cartouche de la carte de Roussel". Minor scattered spotting. Edition of 50 copies. Enclosed is a letter from Henri Beraldi concerning the proof he made of his copy of Roussel's map cartouche for transmission to the printer. ½ dark marbled basane, gilt title and fillets on slightly lightened spine, publisher's beige cover retained. 20 subscribers shared the 50 copies, 15 of which went to Bernard SARRIEU, who bore the cost of printing the book's appendices. BERALDI paid for the printing of the maps. The text itself appeared in part in the bulletin de la section du Canigou and in full in the "Bulletin Pyrénéen" from April 1911 to June 1915. The appendices (140pp.) appear here for the first time. The manuscript in the Mazarine library, which includes the 2 memoirs by ROUSSEL and de La BLOTTIÈRE, is published here. CAMENA d'ALMEIDA falsely attributed it to Mal de NOAILLES. It was Henri METTRIER who correctly attributed it in 1904, and Henri BERALDI who first analyzed it in 1907. "This map legend gives information on the bases of operations and deposits, communication routes, the practicability of passages, and whether they are defended or broken". The rarity and quality of the contributors make this work a delicacy. Missing from Senmartin, only a few copies have come up for sale in recent years, the first being that of Colonel Massie.