LA VILLEURNOY (Charles-Edme Berthelot de). Description... Lot 6

[LA VILLEURNOY (Charles-Edme Berthelot de)]. Description de la Corse, et relation de la dernière guerre. Paris: Jacques Chardon, 1743. Large in-12, (6, including the 3 on the versos banches)-166-(4) pp. in garnet-red morocco, ribbed spine with gilt pomegranate in the center of the caissons, triple framing of gilt fillets with gilt corner fleurons and gilt pomegranates in the spandrels, filleted edges, inner gilt roulette; 2 leaves with restored corners (modern binding in the taste of the period). FIRST EDITION. The anonymous author was identified by a handwritten note on the copy belonging to the bibliophile Antoine Mattei, preserved in the Bastia library. DETAILED RECIT OF THE FRENCH CAMPAIGN OF 1739, led by the future Marshal de Maillebois in support of the Genoese against the Corsicans, completed until the complete withdrawal of the royal troops in 1741. The author also recounts the misadventures of the companies under the command of Captain de Beuvrigny, who escaped shipwreck only to find themselves captured by a group of Corsicans loyal to King Theodore. Lastly, he paints a picture of the island in terms of geography and customs (with many details on the vendetta, funeral practices, etc.). With a brief reminder of Corsica's ancient history. COMING TO CORSICA WITH MAILLEBOIS TO SERVE AS PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER (1739-1741), Charles-Edme Berthelot de La Villeurnoy (1696-1786) led a long career in military administration, notably as engineer and then major of Fort Saint-Louis in Saint-Domingue (1716-1718), and provincial commissioner in Provence (1729 then 1744-1746). He then served as commissaire ordinaire des guerres in Metz (1750) and Amiens (1753), and ended his career as inspector general of the kingdom's militias (1758). Provenance: Xavier Versini (double bookplate, his signature on p. 11 and his initials on p. 26).