SAINTE-MARTHE (Denis de). Gallia christiana, in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa; qua series et historia archiepiscoporum, episcoporum et abbatum Franciae vicinarumque ditionum ab origine Ecclesiarum ab nostra tempora deducitur, & probatur ex authenticis instrumentis ad calcem appofitis. Paris: ex typographia regia, 1716-1751. - 10 volumes in-folio, brown calf, spine with nerves, speckled edges (volumes 1 to 8) and marbled calf, decorated spine with nerves, red edges (volumes 9 and 10) (contemporary bindings). All the first 10 volumes of the 16 published between 1716 and 1865 of this encyclopaedic work on the history of ancient Christian France, initiated by Denis de Sainte-Marthe, Superior General of the Congregation of Saint-Maur. The edition is illustrated with a frontispiece by Hallé engraved by Giffart fils (I), a portrait of Denis de Sainte-Marthe engraved by Drevet after Cazes (IV), a vignette with the royal coat of arms on the title of the first four volumes, two bands, two historiated lettering, and 19 double-page maps, most of them enhanced. Damaged bindings with lacks, awkward restorations. Tears in the inner margin of the last 3 leaves of the first volume, without damage to the text. A few freckles and rare wet spots. Provenance: Congregation of Bordeaux, with this handwritten ex-libris on the titles of volumes 1 to 8: "Ex Libris Congregation Missionis Domus Burdigalensis Catalogo Inscriptus". - Castelnau d'Essenault, with ex-libris. - J.-B. Colbert de Beaulieu, with ex-libris. - Jean Stefgen, with ex-libris.