In untouched contemporary binding
SAUNIER, Jean and Gaspard de. La parfaite connoissance des chevaux, leur anatomie, leurs bonnes & mauvaises qualitez, leurs maladies & les remèdes qui y conviennent. The Hague: Adrien Moetjens. 1734.
Folio. Contemporary full mottled calf, blind fillets to sides, spine with raised bands, tooled in blind, gilt red morocco lettering piece to spine; pp. [vi], 256, 8, with a frontispiece engraved portrait of the author, and 61 engraved plates; binding a little rubbed with some loss to foot of spine, corners a little worn; occasional light foxing, previous owner's signature 'Thornton' to ffep, generally very good.
First edition of this richly illustrated work of equine anatomy and hippiatrics by Jean and Gaspard de Saunier.
Gaspard de Saunier (1663-1748), a riding master at the Academy of the University of Leiden, was the author of several treatises on hippology. La parfaite connoissance des chevaux, arguably his most important work and the only one published during his lifetime, was co-authored with his father, Jean de Saunier, inspector of the King of France's High Stable.
It is unusual to see a copy in such an untouched contemporary binding. The plates by Francois Morellon La Cave (1696-1768), among others, show great attention to detail as well as a flair for dramatic composition. However, the work drew sharp criticism, particularly from Mennessier de la Lance, who pointed out the text's similarity to Solleysel and the resemblance of the plates to those of Ruini.
Dejager 293; Dingley 550; Mennessier de la Lance II, p. 490. Not in Mellon.
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