Lot 135: REGNAULT Nicolas François (1746-c.1810) and Genevive de Nangis REGNAULT (b.1746).La Botanique mise a la portée de tout le Monde ou collection des Plantes d'usage dans la Medecine, dans les Alimens et dans les Arts. Paris: the author and Didot le jeune, [1770]-1774-[1780].

REGNAULT Nicolas François (1746-c.1810) and Genevive de Nangis REGNAULT (b.1746). La Botanique mise a la portée de tout le Monde ou collection des Plantes d'usage dans la Medecine, dans les Alimens et dans les Arts. Paris: the author and Didot le jeune, [1770]-1774-[1780]. 3 volumes, folio (467 x 342mm). 3 hand-coloured engraved titles, 472 hand-coloured engraved plates by or after the Regnaults comprising 3 plates of botanical details numbered I-III, and 469 plates numbered with contemporary ink stamp at head 1-295 in vols I-II and 1-174 in the 'Supplement' [i.e. Vol. III], the associated explanatory text leaves with the same stamp, one engraved leaf 'Introduction la Botanique' printed recto and verso at beginning of vol. I, 3 leaves of contemporary manuscript table of contents at beginning of vol. I and 2 leaves of the same in the 'Supplement', explanatory text leaves with woodcut headpieces. (Very short marginal tear just into text of last leaf of 'Table des Maladies' in 'Supplement', occasional light browning slightly heavier on plates 53, 109, 166, 257 and 295 in vols I-II, engraved title to vol. II with some small stains.) Contemporary catspaw calf, gilt spines with raised bands, red morocco gilt lettering-pieces, red edges (extremities lightly rubbed). FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE GREAT FLOWER BOOKS, ILLUSTRATED WITH 475 HAND-COLOURED ENGRAVED PLATES. Besides listing plants with medicinal uses, the work also covers those to be used in gastronomy or in the arts. 'Perhaps the most impressive French botanical book of the period' (Blunt): it took twelve years to complete. The goal of its authors was to produce a botanical treatise for practical use, hence the inclusion of a ‘Table des Maladies’ explaining how each plant should be used against each disease, be it migraine, insomnia, vertigo, apoplexy, or even drunkenness. The present copy shows some variation (as usual) in the peripheral text, and includes: the 'Avertissement' leaf at the beginning of the 'Supplement', and the 12pp. 'Table des Maladies' at the end of the 'Supplement'. Many of the hand-coloured engraved plates are the work of Geneviève de Nangis Regnault. Each plate, as well as each printed description, was printed on single sheets; and, as stated in the ‘Avertissement’, the book was to be organised by the owners according to their preference; for those who decided to classify the plants in alphabetical order, as is the case here, the printed index became unnecessary and therefore is not lacking in the copy(‘Comme plusieurs Souscripteurs se proposent de ranger les Plantes par ordre alphabétique, la Table sera superflue pour eux’). The first owner of this copy had it bound in alphabetical order and designed his own elaborate index, mixing ink stamps for the numbers and manuscript names of each plant. He also numbered each plate with an ink stamp. However, this copy does not contain the additional printed leaf headed 'La Botanique ... ordre de la Distribution' (noted in the Plesch copy), nor the 1p. table of names of plants sometimes included in the 'Supplement' (cf. the copy sold in these rooms 19 October 1999, lot 39). The 3pp. 'Table des Noms', concluding with the 'Privilège du Roi' dated 1780, was replaced at the time by a manuscript index mixing stencilled letter initials and manuscript text; this copy also contains contemporary foliation by use of stencilled numbers. Blunt & Stearn, p.171; Johnston 517; Dunthorne 256; Great Flower Books (1990), p.131; Nissen BBI 1600; Pritzel 7475; Pinault Sorensen, Le Livre de botanique, 2008, p.70 ('Mme Regnault pose avec delicatesse les couleurs comme en témoignent les planches consacrées à des fleurs aux fins coloris comme le chèvrefeuille, qui orne aussi la guirlande de la page de titre, ou le laurier-rose'); Stafleu & Cowan 8810; Soultrait 18th century 118.

18th century