Collection: History

The history collection at KOEGUI bookstore is divided by period: Antiquity and Middle Ages, Renaissance and Ancien Régime, Revolution and Empire, 19th century, 20th century, history of France, and history of foreign countries, with a significant collection dedicated to Russia. Each section brings together original editions, large paper copies, and bibliophile-worthy items, all verified piece by piece before being offered for sale.

In the history of France collection, for example, one can find Alfred Dreyfus's Souvenirs et correspondancepublished by his son at Bernard Grasset in 1936, or Jacques Bainville's Heur et malheur des français, a definitive edition published in 1924 by Nouvelle librairie nationale, partly printed on tinted vellum from Navarre paper mills. The section also includes rarer accounts, such as Le canon fraternitéby Jean-Pierre Chabrol, an original Gallimard edition from 1970 of which only 35 copies were printed on Vergé paper from Navarre paper mills, the only large paper edition.

We verify the printing order of each entry, in accordance with the practices of SLAM, of which the bookstore is a member. A numbered copy is only valuable if its printing order is verified, not just mentioned.

The collection dates back as far as the 16th century, with pieces such as the Cronica breve de i fatti illustri de’ re di Francia, printed in Venice by Bernardo Giunti in 1588, the first edition of portraits of the kings of France dedicated to Henri III. At the other end of the chronology, collections like Alain Chartier's Passe-temps de chevalerie, printed in 950 copies in 1944, show that careful editing work did not cease with the 19th century.

To delve deeper into a specific period: Antiquity and Middle Ages, Renaissance and Ancien Régime, Revolution and Empire, 19th century history, 20th century history, history of France, history of other countries.

A modern history book synthesizes sources; a first-hand account is written by a contemporary or an actor in the events, such as Alfred Dreyfus's Souvenirs et correspondance. This second type constitutes a source in itself, not a commentary.

Large paper copies and limited editions, such as the 35 copies on Vergé Navarre paper of Chabrol's Canon fraternité, are numbered on the justification page. We verify this ranking before each sale, in accordance with SLAM practices.

Yes, an entire section is dedicated to foreign countries, including a notable collection dedicated to Russia. It complements the sections dedicated to the history of France, period by period.

Value depends on the edition, printing, condition, and provenance, not just age. As a member of SLAM, we provide free appraisals of your copy based on these criteria, verified on site.