The Military, Political, And Private Life Of The Chevalier D’eon, 1779 Edition

LA FORTELLE (Peyraud de Beaussol, N.)

The Military, Political, and Private Life of Mademoiselle Charles-Geneviève-Louise-Auguste-Andrée-Thimothée d'Éon de Beaumont, known until 1777 as Chevalier d'Éon.
In Paris, at Lambert, Printer to the King, A.D. 1770. LXXIX (1779). One volume in-8°, comprising an engraved frontispiece portrait, a title page, and 248 pages.
New Edition, published the same year as the original edition, expanded to include a Letter from Mr. Dorat to the Heroine and followed by Documents relating to her disputes with Mr. de Beaumarchais. A valuable biography published during the lifetime of the famous and mysterious Chevalier d’Éon (1728–1810), an illustrious spy for the “Secret du Roi” under Louis XV, diplomat, and dragoon officer. Published under the pseudonym M. de La Fortelle (attributed to Peyraud de Beaussol), this work traces the incredible journey of this unique figure of the Age of Enlightenment, published just as the French Court had officially forced him to dress as a woman upon his return from exile in London in 1777. The volume opens with a remarkable frontispiece portrait of “La Chevalière D’Éon”, depicted in profile in women’s attire adorned with her military decorations (the Cross of Saint Louis), surrounded by warlike attributes (a helmet with a plume, a shield bearing the head of Medusa) and an owl symbolizing wisdom and diplomacy.

• Binding: Full period (18th-century) fawn sheepskin. Spine with 5 raised bands decorated with floreted panels in gold (faded gilding). Title label in brown morocco leather bearing the gilded inscription "VIE / DE M. / D’EON”.
• Condition of the binding: Sound copy, entirely “in its original state.” The joints are solid and uncracked. Normal scuffing and minor wear from use on the corners, edges, and caps (slight losses at the ends of the endcaps).
• Interior: Good overall condition. Fresh paper, text clearly legible, very few foxing spots or scattered age-related pinholes. The frontispiece portrait and title page are very well preserved.

Provenance & Ownership Marks (Ex-libris) This copy holds particular bibliophilic interest due to the presence of two successive ex-libris pasted on the endpapers:

Coat-of-arms ex-libris by F. Chandenier: A beautiful neoclassical heraldic engraving featuring putti surrounding a central coat of arms adorned with fleurs-de-lis.

Modern bookplate by Loys Barrault: A superb woodcut signed by the illustrator René Petit (circa 1930), depicting a scholar in his study surrounded by antique book bindings.