THE TRIANON OF MARIE-ANTOINETTE de (MARIE ANTOINETTE). PIERRE DE NOLHAC - 1925

London: T. Fisher Unwin Ltd, 1925. First Edition in English. 222 x 146 mm. (8 3/4 x 5 3/4"). 234 pp. [2] leaves (ads).Translated by F. Mabel Robinson. First Edition in English. Quite pretty contemporary dark blue three-quarter morocco, raised bands, spine gilt in panels containing three closely spaced intricately gilt harp ornaments (with cresting rolls above and below), marbled sides and endpapers, top edge gilt, other edges rough trimmed. With frontispiece portrait of the queen, and four photographs of the Trianon. Spine slightly sunned toward a pleasing dark blue-green, one leaf with three-inch tear from fore edge into text due to rough opening, otherwise a fine copy with only trivial imperfections, the bright, attractive binding unworn. Written by the former keeper of the Museum at Versailles, this account tells the story of the small pleasure palace built on the grounds of Versailles, primarily for the use of the royal ladies. Although constructed by Louis XIV, its fame comes from the reign of Marie Antoinette, who used it to escape from the rigors of court life by dressing in muslin and playing at being a milkmaid or shepherdess. M. de Nolhac enlivens his narrative by incorporating anecdotes of life at the French court into his description of the building, its appointments, and its grounds. This is a surprisingly rare book commercially, with just one other copy (in cloth) currently being advertised for sale.