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Item Description

TWO VOLUMES. FIRST EDITION. Tome Premier, [viii] + 260 pp.; Tome Second, [2] + 320 pp. Title pages in red and black. Bound in contemporary vellum, with hand written titles. Red edges. Extremities slightly worn but otherwise a very good crisp set. Illustrated by 8 engraved copperplates, including frontispiece by Bernigeroth after designs by Oesterreich. Decorated by title page, head and tailpiece vignettes and by initials. A novel relating the memories and adventures of a soldier's life. El?azar de Mauvillon (1712-79), historian, translator and linguist was born in Tarascon, but lived in Germany for much of his life, also serving for a time as secretary to the King of Poland. Le Soldat Parvenu had a certain success in the eighteenth century, being reprinted several times and translated into German and Italian. A handsome set with charming copperplate illustrations.