Bidspirit auction | 1695 MEMOIRS OF MARQUIS DE

1695 MEMOIRS OF MARQUIS DE LOUVOIS, FIRST MINISTER OF STATE UNDER KING LOUIS XIV, COURTILZ DE SANDRAS - A 1695 edition of the 'Testament Politique de Marquis de Louvois, Premier Minister d'etat sous le regne de Louis XIV, Roy de France' by the famous author Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras (1644-1712). Sandras is best known for his mostly fictional account of the life of the musketeer D'Artagnan, which inspired Alexandre Dumas' 'The Three Musketeers'. This work, however, is mostly, if not entirely, factual. François Michel Le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois (1641-1691) was one of the most important politicians and military leaders in French history, serving as First Minister of State, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi, all concurrently. During his tenure he reformed and grew the military, reaching a staggering 340,000 soldiers, an unprecedented amount at the time. However, his most important contribution must be his foundation of the Hotel des Invalides in Paris, still the heart of the French military today and now the location of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb. This 1695 leatherbound and gilt first edition was published by a firm known as 'le Politique' in Cologne. [8], 280 pp. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions does not ship in-house. A list of recommended shippers will be provided. Dimensions: 6 1/2 x 4 in., (16.5 x 10.1 cm.) Condition: Very good with expected signs of age. Binding tight and secure.