Beschreibung:

A large and unusual late 18th-Century French perpetual calendar
A large and unusual late 18th-Century French perpetual calendar, signed on an engraved paper label Inventé, composé et executé PAR J.-A. RICARD, Boulevard Montmartre, N o 20, à Paris. Déposé à la Bibliothégeque Impériale , comprising a large wooden board with suspension loop, flanked by fluted Corinthian pilasters with a moulded cornice, the remains of a gilt-lettered title CALENDRIER UNIVERSEL ET PERPETUEL CONTENANT LES CALENDRIERS JULIEN, GREC, RUSSES et EGYPTIEN, FRANCAIS, GREGORIEN et COPHTE, ARABE, TURC, PERSAN ou L'HEGRIBE , the hand-coloured engraved calendar scales arranged concentrically around the large central rotating double volvelle with red and gilt sunburst, containing a wealth of further information including the French post-revolutionary years, the earliest being Year 2 (1793), Dominical letters, Saint's Days and epacts, flanked at the top by two applied engraved paper bearded figures seated on clouds with cartouches AGE DU MONDE on the left and AN DE JÉSUS CHRIST GREC, RUSSE ET ÉGYPTIEN on the right, flanked below by two classical figures above two semi-circular manuscript scales, a lunar scale on the left and a subsidiary perpetual calendar scale on the right, with various engraved paper labels along the base with instructions for use and a further title Les Jours de la Semaine, les Noms des Saints, les Fêtes Mobiles, les Epacts des Nouvelles et Pleines Lunes, les Mois, les Dates, les Signes du Zodiaque et Lettres Dominicales. , the maker's label at the base of the left pilaster and another ( illegible ) at the base of the right ( much paint loss and some abrasions and cracks, some paper loss ) -- 94.2 x 124cm. (37 1/8 x 48¾in.)