The first volume provides introductory surveys on the collecting of ancient régime books and Baron Ferdinand’s interests. The following chapters discuss the late 17th and 18th century Parisian bookbinding trade, with particular studies on the style and production of leading bookbinders, Padeloup, Douceur, the Deromes and others. The provenance index records past owners, with brief biographical notes, and there is a select bibliography. The classified index of over 1000 French bookbinder’s tools, reproduced digitally in actual size, provides an authoritative reference file on the best French bookbinding of the period.