OrfebreríA Francesa Bajo El Antiguo RéGimen. ExplicacióN De Los Punzones Franceses Ilustrada Con Algunos Ejemplos Originales Helft, Jacques

En español, no en inglés. In Spanish, not in English. This is a paperback edition. "French Goldsmiths of the Ancien Régime, an Explanation of French Hallmarks." Printed in Argentina. 8.75 x 7 inches [22.5 x 18 cm]. Plain beige wrappers, lightly soiled, with dark brown lettering to the front wrapper. Staple-bound. 27 numbered pages, with numerous B&W line drawing illus. of French goldsmith stamps and marks from pre-revolutionary France. At the top of the first text page, inscribed/signed by the author in a neat blue ink hand, "au grand collectionneur, au bon ami, [Helft's signature] … '52." Else a very clean interior. A Good copy. 3 oz. weight. Jacques Helft [1891-1980] was a French art and antiques dealer. He opened a gallery with his brother in a private mansion at 4 rue de Ponthieu (Paris 8e). Helft became an expert in silverware and goldware auctions, and he wrote very precise catalogs reproducing the hallmarks, a rare thing at the time. He played a major role in the organization of one of the first major exhibitions devoted to silverware, which took place in 1936 at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. He later wrote several books and prefaces on this theme. In 1940 he escaped to New York from France and in 1948 he relocated to Argentina for several years. He returned to France in 1956 and became Honorary President of the Syndicat des Antiquaires.