TAYLOR (Alexander) sir - Lot 371

TAYLOR (Alexander) sir De l'Influence Curative du Climat de Pau et des Eaux Minérales des Pyrénées, sur les Maladies, contenant des notices descriptives sur la Géologie, la Botanique, l'Histoire Naturelle, les exercices des Montagnes, les Antiquités locales, la Topographie des Pyrénées, et leurs principaux Etablissements Thermaux. Translated from the English, by M. Patrick O'QUIN, lawyer. Pau, Vignancour, 1843. In-8 : 3f., 1fb, 458pp. ; one folding map by PERRET. Freckles in places. Small-grained navy morocco signed R.P. LAFON (bookbinder in Pau) at the foot, smooth spine adorned with rocaille iron, framed with wide gilt columns and spandrels on the boards, gilt roulette at the corners, triple gilt fillet and gilt iron inside, green paper endpaper with cold floral motif, wear rubs, gilt edges. Beautiful romantic binding. A historical, medical and tourist work that greatly contributed to the fame of the Pyrenees. The original English edition was published in London by Parker in 1842, and reissued in 1856, this being the first French edition. The last chapter, in the appendix, which appears to be in O'Quin's hand, is devoted to the Vallée d'Aspe, a valley omitted by Taylor in the English edition. Duloum explains: "As soon as it appeared in London, large extracts were published in the Mémorial des Pyrénées, excellently translated by Patrick O'Quin, a lawyer from Pau, under the pseudonym of William d'Ultony" (Duloum 210 et seq.)(Labarère 1572). For the record, this book, which had formerly belonged to Pierre Caillau Lamicq (cf. public sale in Pau in 2005), had been mistakenly considered to be the copy of the Duc de Nemours, according to Pierre Caillau Lamicq himself. The true copy of this personality (with his seal) was offered for sale some time later by bookseller Hugues de Latude (December 2008).