SACRE. Coronation of Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre, - Lot 27

SACRE. Coronation of Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre, at Rheims, June 11, 1775. Preceded by Recherches sur le Sacre des Rois de France (...) and followed by a Journal historique de ce qui s'est passé à cette auguste cérémonie (...). A Paris, Chez Vente et chez Patas, 1775. In-4, red morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the covers, gilt lilies at the corners and armorial iron in the centers, spine decorated with gilt lilies, gilt roulette on the inner edges, gilt edges, slipcase (period binding). Slight foxing. 2 engraved titles, 10 double plates, 30 costume plates and 14 engraved headbands, complete with folded plan of the city of Reims, all engraved on copper by Patas. First edition and first print run of the Sacre de Louis XVI in quarto format, of which "the proofs are much superior" to the copies published in octavo format, with framing for the various figures (Cohen II, 785). This famous festive book was deliberately designed by Louis XVI to be less lavish than those of his predecessors. A fine copy bearing Louis XVI's coat of arms [OHR 3182 fer n°28]. Former provenance of the CARDINAL PRINCE de CROY with handwritten ex-dono on the second flyleaf. This was Gustave-Maximilien-Juste de Croy-Solre (1773-1844), appointed Bishop of Strasbourg by Louis XVIII (1817), Grand Chaplain of France (1821-1830), Peer of France (1822), Archbishop of Rouen (1823), elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope Leo XII in 1829.