The reproduction of the binding shown above is found in the première partie of the 1930 publication entitled
La bibliothèque de feu Édouard Rahir, ancien libraire
Paris : Francisque Lefrançois, libraire-expert, 1930-1938. An indispensible catalogue for a serious researcher. In my copy the sale prices have been marked in and this binding sold for 50.000 francs which at the time, if measured in gold would have been equal to more than 100.000 dollars U$D in 2015.
I scanned this copy almost 10 years ago never imagining that a decade later, I would be still trying to solve the mystery of who made it. Now however certain things have come into focus and we have identified a number of bindings on which are found the same decorative imprints. What I assume, is that one does not make such a binding for Louis XVI, without a certain amount of qualifications. In fact this is normally the work of the relieur du roi. In the catalogues of the Bibilotheque nationale de France we can find a list of binders that held this post and it so happens that in 1775 Étienne II Anguerrand attained this post succeeding his father, Pierre Anguerrand (click here to see the BnF catalogue entry). They also state Sa production reste à identifier they have not been able to identify any of the work of Étienne II Anguerrand. I could say right now that the 1775 binding shown above was made by Étienne II Anguerrand, and no one could say that I am wrong without providing some proof to the contrary, which so far does not exist according to the BnF. It would be comforting to think that I have identified the author of this work, however for now we can abrievate his name to Relieur Royal.
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