SERRES Olivier de Le Théâtre d’agriculture et mesnage de champs.

Tchemerzine, V, p. 817 ; Pritzel, 8630 ; Mortimer, French, 494 ; En Français dans le texte, 79 ; Simon, Bibl. Bacchica, II, 619 ; Vicaire, pp.788-789 ; Kress, 236 ; Baron de Gaujal, Étude historique sur le Rouergue, 1859, p.230-245 ; Vabre, Sylvie. “Le roquefort : un fromage unique”. Le sacre du roquefort, Presses universitaires François-Rabelais, 2015, p.75-113.

First edition of the first modern treaty on agriculture. “Cette première édition est la plus belle de toutes ” (Thiébaud). It is dedicated to French King Henry IV.

Jean Despradels d’Allaret’s (1728–1809) working copy, with his handwritten signature on the title page, manicules, and numerous notes in his own hand.
Despradels was born in Millau and was the owner of the Rode estate. He was an enlightened and well-read agronomist. He educated himself through books from which he derived a robust theory of agriculture. His copy of Olivier de Serres not only contains numerous underlined passages but also, through marginal notes, comparisons between major works on agriculture and botany. Thus, he refers to works by Duhamel du Monceau (pp. 47, 80), Mathieu Tillet (p. 47), and the Marquis de Turbilly (p. 75). He also takes care to provide further details:: « Olivier de Serres ne parle pas de la Niele ny du Charbon, voir les diverses expériences faites par Mr du Tillet et les préparations que conseillent Mr Duhamel, de Sutieves et luy pour préserver les blés de ses funestes maladies » (p.105).

Despradels put his theoretical knowledge into practice by introducing new crops to his lands and throughout the country, particularly clover (or esparcet), popularized by Olivier de Serres, and potatoes (or entrefegas).

Similarly, on his estate at La Rode—located high in the mountains and completely lacking running water—he established artificial pastures and introduced sainfoin, a forage crop that requires only shallow soil. On March 8, 1789, he was appointed deputy of the Third Estate for the town and community of Millau.

His manuscript reveals his deep attachment and knowledge of his land:« A Millau on peut commencer de semer le pré d’octobre, on doit avoir fini le 15 de 9^bre en le pratiquant ainsi et en labourant tout de suite et avec rapidité, les jachères, on peut les avoir travaillées toutes avant les gelées qui n’arrivent ordinairement qu’en X^bre par cette diligence les terres sont fécondées par toutes les influences de l’hiver et le ménage met à profit les herbes de ces chaumes, d’abord pour les bœufs et muleys et lorsque ceux-ci y ont passé, pour les bêtes à laine. » p.92 ou encore  « dans les païs froids on doit semer plutot [sic] que dans les païs chauds, dans le vallon de Millau le six semaine commencent le p° 8^bre et finissement au 13 de 9^bre. » (p.112)

However, his erudition is not limited to his region; his notes offer us a deep dive into agricultural practices of the time in France and other parts of the world: « dans la partie du Dauphiné qui est sur le bord du Rhone, on fume les terres avec du lupins qu’on sème à la fin de juin ou au commencement de juillet […] Au lieu de Lupins on se sert en Bretagne et dans bien d’autre endroit de blé sarrasin que nous appelons millet noir » (p.100).

When Olivier de Serres mentions the Cros, Despradels adds : « cette méthode est encore en usage dans le Royaume de Naples, en Sicile, dans le levant et en Barbarie » p.136.

Olivier de Serres spent much of his life on his estate at Le Pradel, devoting himself to farming his land. Théâtre d’agriculture is the first major French text on agronomy, in which Serres discusses the soil, land clearing and drainage, wheat, wine, livestock, poultry, the garden, water, wood, and even household recipes. 

This book laid the foundation for the development of new crops such as hops, corn, beets, mulberry trees, and, above all, the potato.

“Ce traité d’agriculture est le fruit des recherches entreprises par l’agronome sur sa propre exploitation à partir de 1559. L’aspect novateur du Théâtre tient au caractère scientifique de la démarche de son auteur qui, bien que connaissant l’apport des antiques et de ses contemporains, réalisa ses propres expérimentations.” (Frédéric Sichet, France Archives).

The illustration consists of a fine title-frontispiece engraved by Mallery. It shows an arch with the title in the middle with small views revealing a country landscape at both sides, surmounted by a garden view with parterres in the style of Le Nôtre showing the king seated in the middle and surrounded by three personalities (Justice, Peace, and Labour). The title reads “Olivier de Serres, Lord of Pradel”; in our copy, this has been corrected to “Despradel” by Despradels, who thereby draws a connection to his own surname.

The illustrations are complemented by 16 woodcuts in the text and eight wood-engraved headpieces at the beginning of each chapter depicting scenes of country life. The woodcuts are part of the Sixth Section on gardens and depict square plots or sections of famous gardens such as the Tuileries, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and Fontainebleau, as well as plans for laying out a medicinal garden.

Clear light waterstain throughout, paper default pp. 721/722 without loss, last leaf doubled with Japanese paper.

A highly interesting example showing how an 18^th-century agronomist acquired knowledge and put it into practice.