This volume describes and depicts the ceremonies that took place during the coronation of Louis XVI in Reims on 11th June 1775. It begins with a history of the Kings of France from the time of Clovis, before detailing the various stages of Louis' coronation. The descriptions are accomanied by double-page plates of the ceremony in Reims Cathedral, as well as the festive dinner taking place after the coronation with Marie Antoinette in attendance on the small balcony above the room. These are followed by a large fold-out plan of the city of Reims, as well as a series of costume plates illustrating three costumes for the king and the attire of notable members of his court such as the Duke of Normandy, the Duke of Burgundy, and the Master of Ceremonies. 

The volume is bound in red goatskin with the arms of Louis XVI in the centre of each cover and fleurs-de-lis in each of the corners and on the spine.

Binding information

Contemporary red goatskin binding, with gold-tooling on both sides and spine.

On both sides, an outer triple fillet border, with flower-head tools in each of the corners; in the inner corners, a large fleur-des-lis tool; in the centre, the crowned arms of Louis XVI, surrounded by a garter chain (Order of the Holy Spirit) and swirling vines, ribbons and architectural borders.

Sides of both boards gold-tooled with double fillet; inside of both boards gold-tooled with zig-zag roll. 

Spine divided into six compartments by raised bands, each tooled with cross-hatch fillet design, Second compartment contains an additional piece of brown leather, with a fillet and triangular oll border and the title: ‘SACRE / DE / LOUIS.XVI.’; all other compartments tooled with fillet and triangular roll border, with a fleur-de-lis in the centre and in each of the inner corners, interspersed with stars; tail of spine tooled with double row of fleur-de-lis and heart tools.

Contemporary green/blue endpapers; all edges gilt.

A copy of this publication now in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Arsenal, RESERVE4-H-3511) is bound in an identical manner, but with green goatskin rather than red.