BEAUMONT (Albanis). Voyage historique et pittoresque du comt - Lot 7

BEAUMONT (Albanis). Voyage historique et pittoresque du comté de Nice. A Genève, chez Isaac Bardin, 1787. In-fol. (475x315), long-grained red morocco, smooth spine decorated with gilt urns, boards decorated with filigree, a large Greek indentation and a gilt chain with festoons and stars at the corners, inner indentation, gilt edges (contemporary binding). FIRST ISSUE: false-title and title, 2 ff. dedication, warning, 7 pp. explanatory text, colored topographical map and 12 very attractive views of Nice and its surroundings, engraved and very finely colored at the time, probably by Gabriel Lory l'Ancien, followed by a table of plates. A superb copy, very freshly colored, in an attractive, freshly decorated contemporary binding of this collection dedicated to the Duke of Gloucester. Beaumont, an agronomist, settled in Nice after studying military art at the Mézières school. He is credited with introducing Spanish Merino sheep to France. The superb plates show views including the Tour de Tourbie, the St. Auspice, the Château de St. André, the Vard, Ponce, the port of Nice, the port of Villefranche, the Nice coast and other sites. Provenance: Cortlandt F. Bishop bookplate (cat. 1938, No. 209).