An Exceptionally Rare Survival of 18th-Century French Bookmaking. Step back into the Age of Enlightenment with this remarkable 1768 edition of L'Albert Moderne, ou Nouveaux Secrets Éprouvés et Licites (The Modern Albert, or New Proven and Lawful Secrets). Published in Paris by the prominent female printer Veuve Duchesne, this sought-after compendium is a fascinating time capsule of 18th-century domestic science, early medicine, cooking, and household wizardry.
What makes this specific copy an extraordinary collector's piece is its original, intact French Domino Paper (Papier Dominoté) wrapper. During the 1700s, these beautiful, block-printed decorative papers were meant to serve merely as temporary protection until a wealthy buyer could afford a custom leather binding. Because they were fragile and ephemeral, very few survived. This volume features a stunning, classic late-18th-century botanical motif in blue and beige ink, with the title and publication date ("l'Albert Moderne 1768") charmingly handwritten in period script across the cover.
Whether you are a collector of rare books, a student of historical printmaking, or an admirer of antique decorative arts, this volume bridges two worlds perfectly. It offers a fascinating text on early practical sciences housed in a textbook, a museum-worthy example of French dominoterie craft. The book measures 4.5" x 7" and is 432 pages long.
Book Details & Specifications:
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Title: L'Albert Moderne, ou Nouveaux Secrets Éprouvés et Licites, Recueillis d'après les découvertes les plus récentes.
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Author: Anonymous (Compiled as a modern update to the classic "Books of Secrets").
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Publisher: Chez la Veuve Duchesne, Libraire (Paris, rue St. Jacques, au Temple du Goût).
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Year: 1768 (MDCCLXVIII).
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Authority: Printed "Avec Approbation & Privilège du Roi" (With the Approval & Privilege of King Louis XV).
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Language: French.
- Binding: Original woodblock-printed papier dominoté publisher's temporary wrapper.
Condition Report:
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Overall: Very Good antique condition, possessing incredible historical character and patina.
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Cover/Wrapper: Shows expected period wear, fraying to the spine, and minor edge loss consistent with a 250+ year-old ephemeral paper binding. The blue block-printed pattern remains incredibly vibrant.
- Interior: The title page is crisp and complete with an elegant printer's vignette. The text block is secure. Pages exhibit light, natural age-toning and minor foxing typical of mid-18th-century rag paper, but remain highly legible and structurally sound.
First page translated...
The Modern Albert, or New Proven and Lawful Secrets, collected from the most recent discoveries. Medical focus: Some aimed at remedying a large number of accidents/ailments affecting health. Practical knowledge: Others containing a quantity of useful things to know for the various needs of life. Leisure & enjoyment: Finally, others concerning pure pleasure, as much in the countryside as in the city. Organization: The whole divided into three parts, and arranged in alphabetical order. Publication details: Publisher: Printed in Paris, at the shop of the Widow Duchesne, Bookseller, Rue Saint-Jacques, at the Temple du Goût. Date: 1768 (M. DCC. LXVIII). Legal status: With the Approval and Privilege of the King.
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