Handsome Copy of Mangeart’s Folio Introduction to Numismatics

Mangeart, T. INTRODUCTION À LA SCIENCE DES MÉDAILLES POUR SERVIR À LA CONNOISSANCE DES DIEUX DE LA RELIGION, DES SCIENCES, DES ARTS... AVEC LES PREUVES TIRÉES DES MÉDAILLES. Paris: Chez d’Houry, 1763. Folio [45.5 by 30 cm], later full green morocco; earlier red morocco spine label, gilt. Title printed in red and black, with engraved printer’s device; engraved dédicace; xxiv, 586, (2) pages; 35 engraved plates, mostly depicting coins; engraved headpiece; woodcut headpieces, tailpieces and initials. Crisp pages; only minor indications of wear; near fine. A remarkably scarce work, the first we have offered since we sold this particular copy in 1994. The author, Thomas Mangeart (1695–1762), was a Benedictine monk who served as librarian for Prince Charles of Lorraine. His massive Introduction was published posthumously through the orchestrations of Michelet d’Ennery. Dekesel M71. Lipsius 245. Strandberg 113. Van Damme 391. Ex 13th Joint Kolbe/Spink New York Book Auction (1994), lot 133.