A cache of documents and publications concealed by the Henchoz family in the eighteenth century in the attics of the Grand Chalet, Rossiniere, in the Vaudois Alps - a building thought to be the biggest wooden house in Europe. Built in the 1750s by Jean David Henchoz, a wealthy notary and judge, the Grand Chalet was used as a hotel in the following century when it was visited by a distinguished clientele that included Victor Hugo before being bought by the painter Balthus (1908-2001). A cache of documents and publications concealed by the Henchoz family in the eighteenth century in the attics of the Grand Chalet, Rossiniere, in the Vaudois Alps. Built in the 1750s by Jean David Henchoz, a wealthy notary and judge, the Grand Chalet was used as a hotel in the following century when it was visited by a distinguished clientele that included Victor Hugo before being bought by the painter Balthus (1908-2001). The collection includes a sequence of seventeenth century documents on vellum that relate to the purchase of the land on which the Grand Chalet stands in Rossiniere. The pamphlets are in very mixed condition but include several with inscriptions by members of the Henchoz family, including Gallatin's theses on the Vacuum and Chapuis on Disentery pointing to the family's scientific interests. There is a group of Berne imprints as well as a chapbook French translation of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe and a work on the Huguenot refugee crisis from 1691: MANUSCRIPTS
1. Vellum 'Acquis Fait pour sieur Abraham Henchoz' 22 May, 1699, concerning the purchase of property at Rossiniere from David Massard; rodent damage including loss of signature etc
2. Vellum, sixteenth century legal document possibly signed by 'Massard', lacking seal
3. Vellum 'Acquis pour Marie Martin femme d'hon David - file d'honarable Jean Jacques Pillet.. Commis de Rossiniere' 1697, signed by Marie Martin etc
4. Vellum 'Acquis... Abraham Martin' small
5 Vellum, 'Manifeste. Soit a tous... 1675, agreement between Marie Martin, Rose Martin, Joseph Martin of Rossiniere and Abraham Henchoz, seal cut away.
PRINTED WORKS
[Henchoz inscribed copy] Voyage du Jeune Anacharsis en Grece, dans le milieu du quatrieme siècle avant l’ere vulgaire. Tome Premier. Jean Jaques Barthelemy, De Bure, Paris 1789, [xxiv] pp384 Very good in buff coloured boards with paper spine label; worn to foot of spine but the cover is only lightly soiled as it has been protected by a paper cover with title in pen to spine. The pages are creased to the edges but clean and fresh. Neat ownership inscription ‘Henchoz min:1791’ to verso of upper board. Illegible inscription in pencil to paper cover. An early edition. etc - Please request full listing of titles.
