La Quintinie, “Instruction Pour Les Jardins,” 1690, First EdJean-Baptiste de La Quintinie (1626-

La Quintinie, “Instruction Pour Les Jardins,” 1690, First Ed
Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie (1626-1688) – director of the royal fruit and vegetable gardens under Louis XIV
“Instruction Pour les Jardins Fruitiers et Potagers, Avec un Traité des Orangers, Suivy de Quelques Réflexions sur l’Agriculture.” Paris: Claude Barbin, 1690. First edition. 2 vols.
Volume one features a six page dedication to the King of France, Louis XIV
Volume one includes a 16 pages of poems
Head and tail pieces with vignettes throughout
Two folding engravings in volume one, including a detailed plan of Potager du Roi à Versailles
Eleven full page engravings in volume two, depicting pruning techniques and tools
High point in garden history
Pritzel 5075
Quatro (254 x 187 mm); in contemporary leather bindings with five raised bands on the spine and gilt lettering
Very good condition
Estimate: $6,000

Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie (1626-1688)

After completing his law degree, La Quintinie took a position as a lawyer in the Court of Parliament and the Master of the Queen’s requests. Then, La Quintinie had an opportunity to take a “grand tour” in Italy to familiarize himself with the arts. While there, La Quintinie fell in love with the beauty of the vegetation, and decided to devote himself to gardens. After returning to France, La Quintinie exercised his new passion by working on the gardens of many important figures. In 1670, he was appointed the director of the royal fruit and vegetable gardens at Versailles. In 1678, he began to create a new garden there that is still famous today. After rendering such services to the crown, La Quintinie was knighted in 1687 by King Louis XIV. The king later told La Quintinie’s widow, “Madam, we have suffered a great loss that we can never repair.”

Condition

Volume one is missing a portion of the plate of the Potager du Roy a Versailles. An older Japanese paper repair is on the verso of the plate along the width where the third fold was separated. Page 276 has a 1 ¾ in. tear at the upper right corner along the gutter. The lower right corner of p. 277 has a piece missing. The bindings have considerable chipping and wear to the edges, scuffing, spitting at the head and foot. Small losses to the head and tail of the spine from leather chipping. An early inventory label is adhered to the upper right corner of the rear board of the first volume. There is very faint age toning to the pages, and light swelling to each volume at the fore-edge. In overall very good condition for age.

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Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie (1626-1688) – director of the royal fruit and vegetable gardens under Louis XIV
“Instruction Pour les Jardins Fruitiers et Potagers, Avec un Traité des Orangers, Suivy de Quelques Réflexions sur l’Agriculture.” Paris: Claude Barbin, 1690. First edition. 2 vols.
Volume one features a six page dedication to the King of France, Louis XIV
Volume one includes a 16 pages of poems
Head and tail pieces with vignettes throughout
Two folding engravings in volume one, including a detailed plan of Potager du Roi à Versailles
Eleven full page engravings in volume two, depicting pruning techniques and tools
High point in garden history
Pritzel 5075
Quatro (254 x 187 mm); in contemporary leather bindings with five raised bands on the spine and gilt lettering
Very good condition
Estimate: $6,000

Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie (1626-1688)

After completing his law degree, La Quintinie took a position as a lawyer in the Court of Parliament and the Master of the Queen’s requests. Then, La Quintinie had an opportunity to take a “grand tour” in Italy to familiarize himself with the arts. While there, La Quintinie fell in love with the beauty of the