JUVENAL. D. Junii Juvenalis et Auli Persii Flacci Satyrae. 240 pp. 4to., 294 x 225 mm, bound in contemporary French full red morocco, intricate gilt-tooled spine with ownership arms of Jean du Barry, a.e.g. Birmingham: John Baskerville, 1761.

First Baskerville Edition. The 1761 Baskerville Juvenal is recognized as one of the great printings of a classical author, and this is a very fine copy in French red morocco. Indeed, this deluxe French binding, and its distinguished French provenance, demonstrate the high regard in which French collectors held this great English printer/publisher. Lowndes simply describes it as "a most beautiful edition."

The exquisite tools used on the spine for this copy were manufactured specifically for Jean du Barry by the famed French eighteenth-century artist/illustrator Hubert-François Bourguignon, dit Gravelot. This copy has the cancels as per Gaskell in corrected state. Tips of binding slightly worn at the fore-corners.

PROVENANCE: Jean du Barry, the brother-in-law of Marie-Jeanne, Madame Du Barry, who became the mistress to Louis XV after the death of Madame de Pompadour, with his gilt-stamped arms at the foot of the spine; Charles Hoare with his ex libris.

Gaskell, Baskerville 15. Brunet III, 632. Lowndes III, 1248. Updike II, I, 12.