Coronation of Louis XV (Le), roy de France et... Lot 51

Coronation of Louis XV (Le), roy de France et de Navarre dans l'église de Reims le dimanche 25 octobre 1722 [Paris, Imprimerie Royale, 1731]; folio of [73] pages, contemporary binding in green morocco, gilded decoration framing the boards, gilded arms in the center, crowned numeral in the corners, spine decorated with crowned L numerals, interior roulette, gilded edges, Plexiglas folder with red cloth spine and flaps (Bound by Padeloup jeune, place Sorbonne in Paris). Magnificent illustrated account of the coronation of Louis XV. It was not until nine years after the event that this jewel in the crown of old regime celebration books was published. It is fully engraved and comprises 34 leaves of text (title, dedication, captions and descriptions, tables), 9 double plates depicting the key scenes of the day, from the King's rising to the nocturnal feast, and 30 single plates depicting the principal actors of the coronation in their ceremonial garb. The text by Antoine Danchet precisely describes the decorum of the various stages of the coronation. The figures are engraved by Cochin, Tardieu, Larmessin and some of the kingdom's finest engravers, after Pierre Dublin and Pierre Josse. Paper label bearing the name of Padeloup jeune on the last leaf - Paper scratch on plate 6. A very fine copy bound in green morocco, signed Padeloup, with the arms and cipher of Louis XV. Copies in this color are extremely rare - this appears to be the copy in the Ruggieri collection (n°546), described in Padeloup's green morocco. The catalog states: "Much sought-after for the beauty of its 9 large plates, numerous portraits and text frames".