Catalogue des livres de la bibliothèque des ci-devant soi-disant Jésuites du Collége de Clermont, dont la Vente commencera le Lundi 19 Mars 1764.

Paris : Saugrain & Leclerc, 1764. Octavo, contemporary sheep-backed speckled papered boards (joints expertly repaired), flat spine with gilt lettering and decoration; edges stained red; half-title leaf, pp. xviii, 488; later pencilled annotation on the title notes that the sale was finished on the 18 August 1764; a few marginal annotations, (quite possibly by the first owner of the catalogue, who attended the sale); clean throughout, a very good example, with small ex libris label of the Bibliotheca Collegii Valgirii Societatis Jesu (Library of the Valgir Jesuit College) to front pastedown, and old Jesuit library stamps to half-title and title.

The rare sale catalogue of one of the most important Jesuit libraries ever assembled, that of the Collége (or Lycée) Louis-le-Grand (also known as the Collège de Clermont), in Paris. The library was renowned for its rarities and first editions of many significant works, and the catalogue is substantial, containing short title entries for 6752 books offered as individual lots, plus an index of authors. The library’s chief donors were Pierre Pithou (1539-96); the poet Philippe Desportes (1546-1606); Nicolas Fouquet (1615-80), superintendent of finance in the administration of Louis XV; and Achille de Harlay IV. The sale of the library and the ultimate dispersal of its books was the direct result of the suppression of the Jesuits in France that had been implemented in stages since 1761 through a series of decrees, which included the sequestration of the Order’s properties. Louis XV would sign a royal edict formally dissolving the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) throughout his dominions in November 1764.

Rare Book Hub traces only a handful of examples of this important catalogue at auction in the last hundred years.

Franklin, Les Anciennes Bibliothèques de Paris, II, pp. 245-65.