DONNADIEU (A[lcide]). Catalogue of Highly Interesting and Valuable Autograph Letters and Historical Manuscripts, Being the Well Known Collection of Monsr. A. Donnadieu. Compiled by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson.1851

London: Puttick & Simpson [Printed for Private Distribution]. 4to, v,[i],166pp., LARGE PAPER COPY, signed by Donnadieu, presentation inscription from Puttick and Simpson to John Young, 17 extra inserted plates, some light foxing throughout, ruled in red with prices and buyers' in a cont. hand, front hinge a little weak, cont. blue half morocco, rubbed, marbled sides, t.e.g. An unusual and important autograph collection formed by an anglophile Frenchman. Munby calls it "one on the finest collections of autograph letters ever to come under the hammer" and notes that the catalogue "with its long verbatim extracts from letters, still has a research value and it set a new standard in the description of such material in the auction room". It included the 'very important assemblage of English Royal Letters, formed by the late William Upcott, Esq., the principal portion of which were originally collected by the celebrated John Evelyn.' Post sale catalogue issued in large paper with the extra plates for private distribution. It realized £1,610.6.6. The facsimiles reproduce autograph letters by Aretino, Cesare Borgia, Catherine Parr, Cromwell, Earl of Essex, Lady Jane Gray, John Locke, Newton, Raleigh, Raphael (with drawing), Rembrandt, Rubens, etc. Munby, The Cult of the Autograph Letter in England, pp.72-74. Provenance: With the bookplates of John Young and Josephi Martini; Bernard H. Breslauer.