185. BACHAUMONT (Louis Petit de). Mémoires secrets pour serv - Lot 185

185. BACHAUMONT (Louis Petit de). Mémoires secrets pour servir à l'histoire de la République des Lettres en France depuis 1762 jusqu'à nos jours, ou journal d'un observateur. London, J. Adamson, 1780-1789. 36 volumes in 18 volumes, fawn half-basin with ornate smooth spine. Complete set of Mémoires secrets, a vast anonymous chronicle covering events in France between 1762 and 1787. Considered one of the richest sources for the history of the second half of the 18th century, the Mémoires secrets offer a detailed account of the debates of the time, including anecdotes, literary and theatrical criticism, as well as commentary on cultural and political life. Although exact attribution is debated, it is generally accepted that Louis Petit de Bachaumont (1690-1771) initiated the project, followed by Mathieu-François Pidansat de Mairobert (1727-1779) who wrote the volumes from 1771 to 1779, and finally Barthélemy-François-Joseph Moufle d'Angerville (1729-1794) who completed the work. A handwritten table has been added to the first volume. Worn binding with minor defects, the copy is offered as is, uncollated and as a working copy; it is not suitable for bibliophily.