THIROUX D'ARCONVILLE (Marie Geneviève Charlotte). Life of François II. Paris, Belin, 1783; 2 vol. in-8 (195 x 123 mm), marbled calf, spines decorated with gilt fleurons, fillets on the covers, arms in the centre (Period bindings). The short reign of François II, son of Henri II and Catherine de Médicis, husband of Marie Stuart, marked by power struggles between the Guise, uncles of Marie Stuart, the Lorraine and the Protestants. FIRST EDITION. The daughter of a farmer-general and wife of a President of Parliament, Mme d'Arconville was passionate about science, history and literature, and entertained all the scholars and intellectuals of her time in her salon. A VERY GOOD COPY BY HENRIETTE-EUGÉNIE DE BÉTHISY DE MÉZIÈRES, PRINCESSE DE LIGNE (1710-1787), who built up an important library. Her copy of Les Liaisons Dangereuses belonged to Jacques Guérin (7 June 1990, VI, n°30).