POMMEREUL [François René Jean de]. - Lot 348

POMMEREUL [François René Jean de]. Histoire de l'isle de Corse. - Berne: Soc. Typ. 1779. - 2 v. (279, 347 - [4] p.); in-8°, porphyry calf, richly decorated and gilt ribbed spine, gilt edges, triple row of gilt fillets framing, with small gilt irons at the corners (period binding). One hinge skilfully restored. A fine copy. When the historian Vérard contacted Baron de Pommereul to announce that he was looking to publish his history of Corsica, the latter, then stationed in Lille as prefect, replied on June 2, 1809. Vérard inserted this letter in his original manuscript. Pommereul provides the following clarification: If you have seen a few copies with my name on them, Sir, it is because of the dozen whose printers had done me the gallantry, I had distributed six of them to as many of my acquaintances or friends for whom (sic) I had had a title printed bearing my name and which I had substituted for the ordinary title...The present copy does contain a strip laminated with the following mention: By M. de Pommereul; capitaine au Corps Royal, Aide-major général de l'artillerie. This is most likely one of only 12 copies bearing the author's name. Extremely rare. We have personally seen tr