LE BEAU Charles, “HISTOIRE DU BAS-EMPIRE, en commencant a Constantin le Grand / 15 vols”, Paris: Desaint & Saillant, 1757-1768. FIRST EDITION, 15 out 27 volumes, in 12mo, p. Vol. I: 627; Vol. II: 555; Vol. III: 440; Vol. IV: 474; Vol. V: 509; Vol. VI: 559; Vol. VII: 511; Vol. VIII: 584; Vol. IX: 514; Vol. X: 536; Vol. XI: 522; Vol. XIII: 501; Vol. XIV: 512; Vol. XVII: 602; Vol. XVIII: 480. Finely bound copy of Le Beau’s history of the Byzantine empire, with distinguished provenance. The author was professor of Latin eloquence at the Collège de France and perpetual secretary of the Académie Royale des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. His work reissued several times and it was esteemed because of the faithful resume it provided of the major Byzantine historians. Full leather with raised bands, gilt trim, burgundy spine labels (titles and numbers), floral decoration in gilt. Red text block edges, marbled endpapers. Corners slightly bumped, a few spine ends chipped. Occasional light spotting and toning. Good copy overall.