COLLECTION DE M. LE VICOMTE DE PONTON D'AMÉCOURT. MONNAIES D'OR, ROMAINES ET BYZANTINES

Paris, 8211. 4to, later antiqued quarter brown calf with marbled sides; spine with four raised bands, ruled in gilt; two red spine labels, gilt; original printed front card cover bound in. (2), ii, 164 pages; 1009 lots; 37 very fine plates. Plates hand-priced in pencil. Light discoloration to lower fore-edge corner of perhaps a third of the plates, not affecting utility. Very good in a fine binding. Rare and still very important. According to the introduction: "La collection d'Amécourt est célèbre entre toutes, aucune collection particulière ne peut lui être comparée, et seuls les grands musées nationaux peuvent rivaliser avec elle, encore sommes-nous persuadés que cette comparaison serait généralement à son avantage ; formée dans un goût plus moderne, elle les surpasserait par l'état de conservation et le style... Toutes ces belles médailles vont passer aux enchères publiques, ce sera la vente la plus importante du siècle ; une semblable réunion ne se retrovera probablement jamais." ["The Amécourt collection is famous to all, no private collection can be compared to it, and only the great national museums can rival it, although we are convinced that this comparison would generally be to its advantage; formed in a more modern taste, it would surpass them in state of conservation and style... All of these beautiful coins will go to public auction, it will be the most important sale of the century; such a gathering will probably never be found again."] Babelon 227. Clain-Stefanelli 3688. Grierson 286. Spring 566 [also listed under "Most important sales of Roman Imperial coins" and "Most important sales of Byzantine coins"].