DUBOS (A.): Histoire critique de l'établissement de la monar - Lot 190

DUBOS (A.): Histoire critique de l'établissement de la monarchie françoise dans les Gaules. Paris, Osmont & Cie, 1734. 3 vol. in-4, granite calf, ornate ribbed spines, gilt roulette on edges and inside. Uncommon first edition illustrated with a large fold-out map by Nolin. This book, the most important work by Abbé Dubos, aims to prove that the Franks entered Gaul, not as conquerors, but at the request of the nation that called them to govern it. This system, set out with great art, initially had very zealous supporters; but it was later victoriously refuted by Montesquieu at the end of the 30th book of L'esprit des loix. A very fine copy with the coat of arms at the tail of the spine and iron on each of the other 3 spine panels of Germain-Louis, seigneur de Grosbois (1685 - 1759). He was successively conseiller au grand conseil in 1706, maître des requêtes in 1711, avocat général au parlement de Paris in 1715, président au mortier in 1718, garde des sceaux de France, ministre et secrétaire d'état des affaires étrangères in 1727 and secrétaire et commandeur des ordres du Roi in 1736. He left a fine library and collections of prints, paintings and other objets d'art (O.H.R. pl. 1116, iron no. 1).