We begin with a catalogue, slightly late, from booksellers Librairie Clavreuil of Paris and Stéphane Clavreuil Rare Books of London. The title is Noel 2023. It is a collection of mostly French, and a few other European antiquarian books. These are books that have been antiquarian for a long time, mostly back several centuries. The catalogue is written in French so familiarity with the language is advisable both for reading the catalogue and the books offered. These are a few selections from the collection.

 

We begin with the first item in the catalogue. It comes from France's brief attempt to colonize a portion of Brazil, specifically Maragnan Island and nearby continental territory, now a Brazilian state. Four Capuchin fathers led the mission, one of whom was Claude d'Abbeville, the author. The title is Histoire de la mission des Pères Capucins en l’Isle de Maragnan et terres circonvoisines... (History of the mission of the Capuchin Fathers in the Isle of Maragnan and surrounding lands). This is the rare first edition published in 1614. Along with converting the natives, participants in the mission wanted to source Brazilian wood and tobacco. D'Abbeville spent four months among the Tupi Indians, learning their language and customs, before returning to France. He took six of the Indians with him, three of whom died shortly after arrival. They had no immunity to European diseases. The book was intended to promote colonization, extolling the land's natural resources, favorable climate, flora and fauna. Plates contain portraits of the six Tupis (the other three returned home) and the erection of a cross. The attempt to colonize the territory lasted only three years. In 1615, they were expelled by the Portuguese. Item 1. Priced at €25,000 (euros or approximately $26,592 in U.S. dollars).

 

There was a time when people knew little about salads, what to put in them, when to eat them. The world needed a book to explain all this and Salvatore Massonio obliged. Published in 1627, his book is titled Archidipno, overo dell’insalata, e dell’uso di essa (Archidipno, or of the salad, and of the use of it). Don't look for a translation of “archidipno.” It was an invented word using the Greek words for “start” and “dinner.” That part tells us when to eat it, although many people put it out at the start of the meal and kept it there for the duration. The salad is supposed to stimulate your appetite without filling you up, hence using it to start the meal, or even during the meal to re-stimulate your interest. Massonio describes the various elements of a salad, and these weren't limited to lettuce. Ingredients included truffles, asparagus, olives, fruits, basil, rosemary flowers, radishes, cabbage, beans, turnips, onions, endives, beans and other vegetables. Oil and vinegar were common condiments, all those various dressings we use today not known then. Massonio, a doctor as well as historian, emphasizes the health benefit of salads. Clavreuil describes the book (translated) as “a philosophical cookbook for salads—and the first of its kind dedicated solely, devoted entirely, to the salad.” Item 41. €5,000 (US $5,390).

 

This book is appropriate to collect in French, even if that is not your language, as its writer was French. He was also one of the great scientists of his era, particularly in the fields of botany and zoology. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was indeed so important most people know him by just his last name, Lamarck, like they do with Galileo or Einstein. He is particularly noted for his theory of evolution. He didn't quite get it right, but he understood that organisms were in fact evolving, not just created as they currently are. It would take Darwin, a half century later, to correctly identify the mechanism. The book is Philosophie Zoologique, ou exposition des Considérations relatives à l’histoire naturelle des Animaux; à la diversité de leur organisation et des facultés qu’ils en obtiennent... (Zoological Philosophy, or exhibition of considerations relating to the natural history of animals; to the diversity of their organization and the faculties they obtain...). It was published in 1809. Clavreuil (quoting Garrison-Morton) notes, “This work is considered the greatest exposition of his argument that evolution occurred by the inheritance of characteristics acquired by animals as a result of the use or disuse of organs in response to external stimuli.” In this book, Lamarck expands his theory to discuss the development of the central nervous system, the brain in particular. It would take Darwin (and Wallace) to figure out that organisms were not passing down learned experiences but that evolution was the result of natural selection. Item 34. €6,500 (US $7,009).

 

This book is part adventure, part scientific achievement, part great success, and part tragedy. The author was Jean-Baptiste Chappe d'Auteroche, a French astronomer. The title is Voyage en Californie pour l’observation du passage de Vénus sur le disque du soleil le 3 juin 1769 (Travel to California for the observation of the passage of Venus across the disk of the sun on June 3, 1769), published in 1772. A transit of Venus occurs when Venus passes in front of the sun, that is, between the sun and the earth, casting its imperceptible shadow upon us. It happens on an unusual cycle. One occurred in 1761, followed by this one in 1769. The next would not occur until over a century later, so missions were set out to view it from several locations as none would occur again in the lifetimes of almost everyone then alive. You may wonder why this was such a big deal, but from observations in different locations, astronomers can calculate the distance from Venus to Earth, and from that, based on known relationships between the planets, they could calculate the size of the solar system. This book recounts Chappe's trip to America and through Mexico to the Baja Peninsula. It was a race against the clock, but Chappe made it there just in time. He took down the necessary observations and computations. His triumph was assured. The tragic part was that Chappe, and all but one other member of the mission, contracted some dreaded disease and within a few days, they all were dead. Fortunately, the one survivor of the mission made it back to France with Chappe's notes. Item 11. €8,500 (US $9,170).

 

Here is a beautiful book, one from engraver Pierre Aveline of views of Versailles and other French castles two and a half centuries ago. The title is Vues du château de Versailles, et d’autres monuments et jardins parisiens (Views of the palace of Versailles, and other Parisian monuments and gardens). It was published circa 1700-1722. There are 47 views included, colored and most signed by Aveline. Twenty-four of them are from Versailles, but 12 other castles are represented. One is of Ruel, residence of Cardinal Richelieu (he evidently did not take a vow of poverty). It was demolished in 1832. This is as good a view as you will see since there was no photography yet. Item 4. €12,000 (US $12,953).

 

Clavreuil may be reached as follows:

London. Stéphane Clavreuil Rare Books, +44 (0) 798 325 2200 or stephane@clavreuil.co.uk.

Paris. Librairie Clavreuil, +33 (0) 1 43 26 97 69 or basane@librairieclavreuil.com.

Their website is www.librairieclavreuil.com.