PONCET DE LA GRAVE (Guillaume). Project of the embellishments of the city and suburbs of Paris. Paris : Duchesne, 1756. - 3 volumes in-12, 163 x 97: frontispiece, (2 ff.), pp. (iij)-239; frontispiece, 224 pp.; frontispiece, 192 pp. Marbled havana calf, large gilt border and gilt arms in the center of the boards, mention " De la part de l'auteur " gilt in capital letters on the first boards, ornate spine, inner gilt border, paper lining and endpapers with gilt stars, marbled edges (period binding). Cohen 815. Sought-after first edition of this work by Guillaume Poncet de La Grave (1725-1803), historian and lawyer at the Parliament of Paris . This work is important for the history of Paris, particularly with regard to the plans for its physical and architectural evolution. If he takes up ideas formulated by Voltaire or the architect Pierre Patte, concerning among others the Louvre, the city hall, theaters and cemeteries, he highlights the need to build new bridges and above all to equip with quays the parts of the City and the two banks which are without them. Although these projects did not immediately come to fruition, his work inspired the program for the development of the Seine thirteen years later. The edition is unique in that it is printed on the front only, the back of the pages being used for observations. It is illustrated with 3 frontispieces, the first engraved by Lucas, the second by Le Grand after Charles Eisen, and the third by Fessard after Le Lorrain. Cohen quotes only the first two frontispieces. The work was supposed to be dedicated to Abel François Poisson, marquis de Marigny (1727-1781), brother of the marquise de Pompadour and director of the royal buildings, but he refused this dedication in order not to give the author a public approval and interfere in the decisions of the authorities. This copy is from this point of view undoubtedly one of the most precious of this book since it is precisely the copy that the author offered to the Marquis de Marigny, bound with his coat of arms and bearing on the first plates the mention "DE LA PART DE L'AUTEUR". This provenance is confirmed by a note from the person who acquired the copy at the sale of the marquis's library in 1782: " exemplaire de présent fait à M. de Marigni à laquelle l'ouvrage a été dédié acheter les 3 vol 8l 10s à sa vente. In Paris in June 1782". A very well preserved copy in spite of a small tear in the headband and the missing title page of volume 3. Provenance : Marquis de Marigny, with his arms on the boards (sale April 1782, n° 563). - Sale L. Hoche, n° 1075, according to a pencil note on the first endpaper of the first volume.