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Lot Essay
The case and the volumes contained within, as both the plaque and title page of volume I indicate, were presented to the London Travellers Club in 1859 by the Princes of the House of Orléans. One of the four signatures is that of Louis-Philippe of Orléans, the deposed King of France.
Louis-Philippe was crowned King in 1830 after popular uprisings forced his grandfather, Charles X, to abdicate in his favor. His reign lasted until the Revolution of 1848, when Louis-Philippe was himself forced to step down. He left for exile in England where he died in August 1850. The books, and possibly the case as well, were brought to England by the exiled Orléans Princes.
Although Louis-Philippe and his family preferred the Palais Royal in Paris and the châteaux at Neuilly and d'Eu as residences, Louis-Philippe was very interested in the restoration and improvement of the many other royal residences that had suffered in the previous decades. The Palace of Versailles, in particular, was reconstructed under his supervision and in 1837 the King inaugurated the Musée de l'Histoire de France at Versailles.
Louis-Philippe was crowned King in 1830 after popular uprisings forced his grandfather, Charles X, to abdicate in his favor. His reign lasted until the Revolution of 1848, when Louis-Philippe was himself forced to step down. He left for exile in England where he died in August 1850. The books, and possibly the case as well, were brought to England by the exiled Orléans Princes.
Although Louis-Philippe and his family preferred the Palais Royal in Paris and the châteaux at Neuilly and d'Eu as residences, Louis-Philippe was very interested in the restoration and improvement of the many other royal residences that had suffered in the previous decades. The Palace of Versailles, in particular, was reconstructed under his supervision and in 1837 the King inaugurated the Musée de l'Histoire de France at Versailles.