Guillaume-Antoine LE MONNIER. - Lot 81

Guillaume-Antoine LE MONNIER. Fêtes des Bonnes-Gens de Canon et des Rosières de Briquebec. Avignon et Paris, 1777, in-8 bound in full old-fashioned basane, smooth spine decorated, title page, jaws rubbed, discreet restorations, gilt fillet framing the boards. Illustrated with a frontispiece drawn and copper-engraved by Moreau le jeune. In fine, "Discours d'un Nègre marron, qui a été repris, et qui va subir le dernier supplice". A work on these two traditional Normandy festivals. The Fête des Bonnes-Gens was instituted in Mézidon-Canon in February 1775 by Jean-Baptiste Élie de Beaumont (1732- 1786), jurisconsult and lawyer, Intendant of Finances for the Comte d'Artois and then Charles X. A Good Daughter, a Good Mother, a Good Old Man and a Good Head of Household were elected at each of these ceremonies, and presented with an engraved silver token. Subsequently, several localities imitated Canon's festivities, including Briquebec, with the celebration of its Rosière.