An Essay in the History of Gold-Tooled
Bindings by Herbert P. Horne
London 1894
two important libraries in 1724; in which a great number of volumes were of his biding. Copies of
the catalogues of both these sales are to be found in the British Museum. The second catalogue
has been known to, and discussed by, every writer upon Du Seuil, since Dibdin; but I do not
remember to have met with any allusion to the earlier one. It is entitled: 'A Catalogue of the
Library of the most Illustrious Henry Marquis de la Bazoniere, Governor of Bayeux in Normandy. .
. which will begin to be Sold very Cheap (the Price marked in each Book) at James Woodman's
and David Lyon's Shop in Russelstreet, Covent Garden, on Monday the First of February, 1724.'
This library contained' an entire set of the Old Elzivir Classicks in Fifty Volumes,' and 'several
hundred Volumes in Folio, bound in Morocco by the Abbe Du Seuil.' The title of the second
catalogue runs thus: 'A Catalogue of the Library of his Excellency Louis Henry de Lomenie, Count
de Brienne, Secretary of State to Louis XIV and Ambassador at Rome, belonging to his Son the
late Bishop of <;:outance in Normandy. . . which will begin to be Sold very Cheap (the Price
marked in each Book) at James Woodman's and David Lyon's shop in Russel-street, Covent
Garden, on Tuesday 28th of April, 1724-' The title adds, that the collection contained • several
hundred Volumes in Folio, bound in Morocco by the Famous Abbe du Sueil.' In both these
catalogues, the Latin, French, and English books, bound by Du Seuil, are severally described, as:
'Corio Turcico, compact. per Abbatem du Sueil '; 'Relie en Maroquin par l' Abbe du Sueil,' and
occasionally, • dore & marbre sur Tranches'; or, • Bound in morocco by the Abbe du Sueil,' and
occasionally, 'gilt and marbled on the leaves.'
According to Charles Nodier, • Du Seuil devaittre un ecclesiastique du diocese de Paris, qui exert
la reliure en amateur.' But the only binder of this name, of whom any account has come down to
us, despite the research which has been made into this matter, is Augustin Du Seuil, the son of
Honore Du Seuil and Isabeau Billonne, who was born at Meounes, in Provence, in 1673. No
account has been preserved of his early years, or of his coming to Paris: but it is thought, that
he was apprenticed to Philippe Padeloup, the elder; since he was married, on 23rd November,
1699, according to the register of St. Severin, to Francoise, the daughter of that binder, and a
first cousin of the celebrated Antoine Michel Padeloup. She bore him seven children, and died on
16th February, 1714- In the certificate of her death, he is described as • Relieur de Monseigneur
et de Madame la Duchesse de Berry': at this time he fived in the Rue Saint Jacques. By a breve
dated 26th February, 1717, he was appointed by Louis xv., at the instance of the Regent, father
to Madame de Berry, one of the Binders in Ordinary to the king.