HISTORICAL FRENCH INFANTRY CORRESPONDENCE (1696-1736) – LOUIS XIV INFANTRY, CARABINIERS – RÉGIMENT DU MAINE

France, early 18th century. 7 volumes, in folio and quarto. Manuscripts on paper, in French. Written in several hands over four decades, all hands are closely written, filling every page, in a neat secretarial script in brown ink and under calligraphic titles giving the addressee and date of letter. Collection contains full transcriptions of letters received from the French Calvary regiments, namely the Royal Carabiniers and the Régiment du Maine, the principal French military regiments active at the turn of the 18th century. The earliest letter is dated 1696 and the latest 1740. Addressed for the most part to various commanders of the brigades, French statesmen, or members of the court mainly in Versailles, Marly and Fountainebleau; with some near-contemporary marginal annotations, summaries and corrections. The transcriptions are a comprehensive collection of historical French Infantry correspondence; spanning four decades and encompassing the reign of Louis XIV, his demise, and the controversial period of the Regency. The transcriptions were likely made shortly after the last letter (dated 1740), compiled by a librarian or historian with access to the original letters (possibly kept in military offices, or kept by the government and given to the library). All volumes were at once in the Royal Library of France (Bibliothèque du Roi), and maintain their old library number on pastedowns, most volumes are also stamped with the Palais Royal library rubber stamp to preliminary leaves. In the 20th century, the books were in the collection of Monseigneur le Comte de Paris (d.1999), he was the Orléanist claimant to the throne of France from 1940 until his death (his sale, Sotheby’s Monaco, December 15, 1996); Purchased by Lily & Edmond J. Safra, philanthropists and bibliophiles, their lily-flower ex-libris pasted in the volumes at front. Folio volumes (332 x 216mm): 1) Lettres les plus importantes concernant les Carabiniers (1707–1727). [The Most Important Letters Concerning the French Calvary]. 474pp. 19th-century French marbled calf, spine gilt with gilt-title stamped to front cover “LETTRES LES PLUS IMPORTANTES CONCERNANT LES CARABINIERS” and old vellum label pasted to front cover inscribed “Thome second,” speckled edges; (light occasional foxing; corners lightly bumped). Royal Library no. 1049. The first letter addressed to M. Chamillart, French statesman and minister to Louis XIV, is dated 15 September 1707 and is asking for supplies in order for the Régiment du Maine and the Carabiniers to prepare for the upcoming winter, followed by a letters to the Lieutenant- General Sousternon, to approve proposals of a name-change. Other letters are most commonly requests of the brigades, for supplies or approval of regiment changes, replacements, moving troops, all addressed to important people and commanders based primarily in Versailles, Marly, and Fountainbleau. Summaries of each letter’s subject were made in the margins in a near contemporary hand. The Royal Carabiniers were a regiment created in 1693 under Louis XIV. Several years before their creation, there were two Carabiniers in each cavalry company, chosen among the best marksmen. The organization of Carabiniers differed from army to army and over time, but typically were medium cavalry, similar in armament and tactical role to Dragoon. Its name came from the main weapon carried by its troopers: the rifled carbine (carabine in French). 2) Carabiniers (1714–1730). [French Calvary]. 456pp. (slightly larger at 365 x 240mm). 19th- century French marbled calf, spine gilt and lettered “Carabiniers,” speckled edges; (lower left corner creased for first 37 pages). Royal Library no. 473. 3) Registre des lettres concernant les Carabiniers (1727–1740). 478pp. [Register of Letters Concerning the French Calvary]. 19th-century French marbled calf, gilt-spine marbled edges; (headcap slightly chipped). Royal Library no. 470. This register of letters and the following volume continue in the same hand over the year 1740. Some letters are summarized in margins, majority of letters are requests to military advisors “chefs de brigade,” requests for sending supplies. 4) Registre des lettres concernant les Carabiniers (1740–1744). 380pp. [Register of Letters Concerning the French Calvary]. 19th-century French marbled calf, gilt spine titled “4E REGISTE DES LETT CONCERN LE REG ROYAL CARABIN.” speckled edges; (approx. last 50 leaves left blank). Royal Library no. 471. Quarto volumes (223 x 157mm): 5) Registre pour moy, sur les Carabiniers (1696–1706). 195pp. [Register for Me, on the French Calvary]. 19th-century French marbled calf, old vellum label pasted to front cover inscribed “Lettres ecrites pour Carabinier,” speckled edges; (light foxing, occasional contemporary cancellation of text). Royal Library no. 694. 6) Mémorial des choses dont je veus me souvenir pour les carabiniers (1706–1707); [A Memorial of the Things I Want to Remember of the French Calvary]. 162pp. 19th-century French marbled calf, old vellum label pasted to front cover inscribed “Carabiniers,” speckled edges; (first quire roughly excised; lightly dampstained). Royal Library no. 695. 7) Régiment du Mayne, Infanterie (1705–1736). 120pp. 19th-century French marbled calf, old vellum label pasted to front cover inscribed “Tome Premier Regiment du Maine Infanterie,” [First volume of the Regiment du Maine Infantry], speckled edges; (light foxing). Royal Library no. 698. The Régiment du Maine was created in 1675 out of the Turenne regiment and was given to Louis August de Bourbon Duc du Maine, the most favored son of Louis XIV. During the Nine Years War the Maine regiment ravaged Europe and was a forceful European military regime. The correspondence covers a critical time in French history including the War of the Polish Succession in 1733, of which the regiment had played a large role. First letter details the rules of the regiment. Later letters document the experiences of the Régiment du Maine during the War of the Spanish Succession. The letters concern the campaign and other military activities. The French Infantry volumes are an attractive group for their uniformity in theme, secretarial hands, and bindings. All seven volumes are exceptionally maintained and tied to definite dates, persons and occasions during this formative time of French history.