Antiquit‚ - Moyen-Age - Renaissance, Paris: Maison Quantin, Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1890-1891, volumes I-VI (lacking atlas volume), number 237 of 600, text in French, illustrated with numerous color plates and engravings, signed Zaehsdorf binding, bound in full red (vol. I-III) and brown (vol. IV-VI) morocco leather, cover with blindstamped and gilt monogram and floral ruling, gilt floral decoration and lettering to spine, five raised bands, moire endpapers, teg

Note: Fr‚d‚ric Spitzer (1815-1890) was an art collector and dealer who rose to fame during the second half of the 19th century for amassing a private collection of Medieval and Renaissance art and antiquities so numerous it was once referred to as "the eighth wonder of the world." A large portion of the collection was sold at auction in 1893 after Spitzer's death to great success, with much of it being purchased by the Australian collector Georg Salting (1835-1909) who bequeathed it to the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. In the decades following, it was revealed that Spitzer had engaged in the production and selling of forgeries, bringing the authenticity of some of the works sold into question. At the height of its renown, however, the collection was considered to be of great quality and importance, and in the years just before and after Spitzer's death, this multi-volume catalogue detailing the many works it contained was published.

Provenance: Thomas Heneage Art Books, London (accompanied by write up with dealer's description with list price of $18,000); The Estate of Peter H. Tillou, Litchfield, Connecticut

light wear to extremities, scattered light scuffs to leather, some light staining to moire, some dampstaining and areas of offsetting throughout; volume III with cracks to spine top