s.l.[Paris], [Chez L'editeur, Rue du Marche St Honoré, au Palais de Versailles. Bureau central des "Galeries historiques de Versailles"], s.d.[1837- 1841], serie I, section I, II, III et serie XI, large in-folio (48,5 x 33,3 cm or 19.10 x 13.11 inches), 122 steel engraved plates, 19th century half embossed glazed calico (some wears), flat spine with title gilded, uncut.
First edition and second issue on thick laid paper "demi-jesus". One of the 16 volumes of this monumental serie on the Palace of Versailles ordered by the French King Louis-Philippe and issued in 300 instalments. This works was entirely executed with the diagraph deviced by Gavard, "capitaine du corps royal d'état-major". Our volume contains the serie I with the section I : "Plans, vues intérieures" with a title page and its device showing the War Gallery drawn by Raynaud and engraved by Budzilowicz. This part contains 22 engraved plates "diagraphées" by Achard, Bertin, Probst, drawn by Lejeune and engraved by Hibon and J. Huguenet. The section II : "Tableaux Allégoriques, Plafonds, Dessus de Portes" with a title page and its device put out of the "Bosquet des Bains d'Apollon", drawn by Raynaud, engraved by Lacoste father and elder son. This part contains 30 engraved plates "diagraphées et pantographées" by Gavard after Lemoine, Veronèse, Lebrun, Picot, drawn by E. Gilbert, Nicolan, engraved by Nageot, Geille, Huguenet, Petit. The section III : "Vues des Chateaux Royaux et Résidences Royales" with its title page and its device showing the "Pièce d'eau de Latone, tirée du parc" drawn by Raynaud and engraved by Lacoste father and elder son. This part contains 21 engraved plates (3 plans of the Palace of Versailles and its garden) "diagraphées et pantographées" by Gavard, after du Temps, Vander Meulen, Pierre Denis Martin, Cottel, Allegrain, drawn by Lambinet, Aubert and engraved by Schroeder, Petit, Skelton, Thomas, Huguenet, Devilliers Jeune, Ransonnette, Bury, Nyon. The volume contains also the serie XI : "Statues - Bustes" with a title page and its device showing "les Vertus portant le Globe et la Couronne de France" by Germain Pilon put out of the "Galerie des Statues, aile du Nord, premier étage", drawn by Raynaud, engraved by Gowland. This part contains 71 engraved plates "diagraphées et pantographées" by Gavard, drawn by E. Hebert , Malte-Brun, Pol Justus, Calamatta, Bruner, Duchâteau, Mélin, Girardet, Notré, engraved by Bernardi, Ruhierre, Ed. Lerouge, Calamatta, Beyer, Conguy, Blanchard Fils, Oleszczinsky, Geille, Masson, Aristide Louis, L. Massard, Aug. Blanchard, Giroux, Gelée. All the plates have still their protectives tissues. Nice copy with large margins and very few foxings. Cfr. Brunet, 9375 ; Graesse III, p. 13 (ouvrage magnifique imprimé sur papier vélin).