Almanac Of Graces: A Collection Of Erotic Songs Dedicated To The Countess Of Artois, 1789
This work is an Almanach des Grâces, erotic songs for New Year's gifts, published in Paris in 1789 by the printer and bookseller Cailleau et Fils.
It fits perfectly into the salon culture and social life of the late Ancien Régime. Contrary to what its subtitle “erotic New Year’s gifts” suggests today, the word “erotic” at the time meant “relating to love” or to courtly gallantry. The work was printed “With the King’s Approval & Privilege,” which guaranteed its full compliance with the royal censorship of the time. Here is a comprehensive and detailed description of this copy:
1. Technical Description and Visual Appearance
It fits perfectly into the salon culture and social life of the late Ancien Régime. Contrary to what its subtitle “erotic New Year’s gifts” suggests today, the word “erotic” at the time meant “relating to love” or to courtly gallantry. The work was printed “With the King’s Approval & Privilege,” which guaranteed its full compliance with the royal censorship of the time. Here is a comprehensive and detailed description of this copy:
1. Technical Description and Visual Appearance
- Identity: Almanach des Grâces, Érotiques Chantantes; dedicated and presented to Madame, the Countess of Artois, for the year M. DCC. LXXXIX. (the year of the French Revolution, indicated in Roman numerals on the title page and gilded on the spine).
- Publisher: André-Charles Cailleau, located at 64 Rue Gallande in Paris.
- Binding & Endpapers: The leather spine features floral panels gilded in the style of the period. The endpapers are made of marbled paper featuring green stars on a light background, typical of the late 18th century.
- Illustrations: The volume opens with a frontispiece engraved by David after a drawing by Le Jeune, depicting mythological scenes associated with the Three Graces, accompanied by a four-line poem.
- Royal dedication: The work is dedicated to Marie-Thérèse of Savoy, Countess of Artois and sister-in-law of King Louis XVI. It celebrates her virtues and beauty, an essential step in obtaining official permission to print.
- Calendar and Astronomy (The Almanac): Like any almanac of the time, it contains a complete calendar for the year 1789, including the days associated with saints’ feasts, the phases of the moon, and the sun’s course.
- Collection of Poems and Gallant Songs: This is the heart of the book, an anthology of light poetry, vaudevilles, romances, and society songs that were very much in vogue in Paris. The texts deal with fleeting love, fidelity, mythology (Cupid, Venus), or the pleasures of the countryside. They are written by social poets such as Coulange, Boissel, and the Count of Barruel-Beauvert.
- Musical scores (notated melodies): The book generally concludes with several pages of printed music. For poems without sheet music, the publisher provides “melody indications” (for example: “To the tune of...”) to allow readers to sing these texts directly at social gatherings.
140 €
Period: 18th century
Style: Louis 16th, Directory
Condition: Condition of use
Material: Paper
Reference (ID): 1821680
Availability: In stock
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