Histories of the French Court by Lady Jackson

A handsome complete 14-volume set of Lady Jackson's celebrated histories of the French court and society, presented in matching rich brown leather bindings with elaborate gilt decoration.

This set comprises all seven of Catherine Charlotte, Lady Jackson's principal historical works, chronicling the French monarchy, court life, salons, society, and political history from the sixteenth century through the Restoration. Together, the fourteen volumes include The Court of France in the Sixteenth Century, The Last of the Valois, The First of the Bourbons, The French Court and Society, The Old Régime, Old Paris, and The Court of the Tuileries.

Of particular interest, this is a numbered Large Paper Edition, with this set identified as No. 753. Large-paper editions were produced as special limited issues for collectors, using a larger format and finer presentation than the standard trade edition. The publisher's promotional literature specifically distinguished the Large Paper Edition from the ordinary fourteen-volume set.

The volumes are beautifully presented in rich burgundy-brown leather with raised decorative bands and extensive gilt compartment tooling, giving the set a particularly handsome presence when displayed together. The uniform bindings make the complete set especially desirable for both the collector of Victorian books and the decorator interested in substantial period book collections.

Lady Jackson's works are valued not only as decorative books but for their detailed accounts of French royal history, court personalities, manners, customs, literary salons, and social life. The series draws upon historical memoirs and contemporary sources, making it an appealing collection for anyone interested in the cultural and social history of ancien régime and nineteenth-century France.

A particularly compelling feature is the completeness of the set: all fourteen volumes are present and uniformly bound, rather than being assembled from individual volumes.

Author: Catherine Charlotte, Lady Jackson.
Edition: The Grolier Society, numbered No. 753 of 1000.
Date: c. 1899-1900
Binding: Leather with gilt decoration.
Condition: Good antique condition overall, with age-appropriate wear to the leather bindings, including rubbing, surface wear, and minor imperfections consistent with age and use. Some volumes show expected toning and foxing to the pages. Please see photographs for individual condition details.