A refined late eighteenth century edition of Dorat’s collected works, richly illustrated and elegantly bound
This complete three volume 1786 Paris edition of Claude Joseph Dorat’s works offers an exquisite example of French literary culture in the final decades of the ancien régime. Dorat, celebrated poet, playwright, and member of the convivial Société du Caveau, was known for his polished verse, theatrical skill, and keen sense of stylistic display. His writings circulated widely among the salons and literary circles of the period and reflect the refined taste that characterised the twilight of the Enlightenment.
The edition brings together Dorat’s poetry, his tragedies including Régulus, his epistles, and a biographical study titled Précis sur la vie de Dorat. The collection is embellished with engraved plates and a portrait frontispiece, each printed with the clarity and delicacy associated with late eighteenth century Parisian engraving. These illustrations lend the set both artistic value and a visual connection to the theatrical and poetic worlds Dorat inhabited.
All three volumes are preserved in contemporary full leather bindings with red title labels, gilt decorated spines, and marbled endpapers and edges. The bindings display gentle rubbing and small areas of wear along the spines, yet the overall presentation remains strong, decorative, and harmonious. The interiors are generally clean with only light foxing. The engravings retain their crisp lines and remain remarkably well preserved.
As a historical artefact the set embodies the elegance of pre Revolutionary French book production. It stands at the intersection of literature, illustration, and decorative binding craftsmanship. For collectors of eighteenth century French poetry, Enlightenment literature, or finely bound illustrated sets, this edition represents a thoughtful and visually striking acquisition.
A refined late eighteenth century edition of Dorat’s collected works, richly illustrated and elegantly bound
This complete three volume 1786 Paris edition of Claude Joseph Dorat’s works offers an exquisite example of French literary culture in the final decades of the ancien régime. Dorat, celebrated poet, playwright, and member of the convivial Société du Caveau, was known for his polished verse, theatrical skill, and keen sense of stylistic display. His writings circulated widely among the salons and literary circles of the period and reflect the refined taste that characterised the twilight of the Enlightenment.
The edition brings together Dorat’s poetry, his tragedies including Régulus, his epistles, and a biographical study titled Précis sur la vie de Dorat. The collection is embellished with engraved plates and a portrait frontispiece, each printed with the clarity and delicacy associated with late eighteenth century Parisian engraving. These illustrations lend the set both artistic value and a visual connection to the theatrical and poetic worlds Dorat inhabited.
All three volumes are preserved in contemporary full leather bindings with red title labels, gilt decorated spines, and marbled endpapers and edges. The bindings display gentle rubbing and small areas of wear along the spines, yet the overall presentation remains strong, decorative, and harmonious. The interiors are generally clean with only light foxing. The engravings retain their crisp lines and remain remarkably well preserved.
As a historical artefact the set embodies the elegance of pre Revolutionary French book production. It stands at the intersection of literature, illustration, and decorative binding craftsmanship. For collectors of eighteenth century French poetry, Enlightenment literature, or finely bound illustrated sets, this edition represents a thoughtful and visually striking acquisition.
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