The achievements of Choffard do not occupy the high place they deserve in this country; as a whole, they are too little known to do so, and collectors find such difficulty in obtaining impressions of his etchings in a fine state, that this draughtsman’s great gifts are frequently misjudged in consequence. One of the best proofs, although commonplace evidence, of the enduring charm which French eighteenth-century design possesses, is that the most admired present day catalogues and business cards are those with reproductions of designs by artists of that period, Choffard’s work being constantly found amongst them. The author wishes gratefully to acknowledge the kind advice her father has given her on a few difficult points and the valuable assistance he afforded her, by generously allowing the writer to verify the greater part of the volumes mentioned in this booklet, by means of his library. For the description of those works that the author has been unable to see in the above-mentioned collection or in museums she has referred to “Les Graveurs du dix-huitième siècle” by MM. Portalis and Béraldi, and the other equally excellent reference book “Guide de l’Amateur de livres à gravures du XVIIIe. siècle” by Henry Cohen. V. S. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS PAGE THE LIFE OF CHOFFARD 9 THE ART OF CHOFFARD 19 CATALOGUE OF THE BEST-KNOWN BOOKS 37 ILLUSTRATED BY CHOFFARD ADDENDA TO CATALOGUE OF BOOKS 97 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 101 INDEX OF THE WORKS MENTIONED IN 107 THE CATALOGUE OF BOOKS ILLUSTRATED BY CHOFFARD PLATES 115 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: Head-piece from Choffard’s book entitled “Notice historique sur l’art de la gravure en France”] THE LIFE OF CHOFFARD So little is known concerning Pierre-Philippe Choffard himself, that it is difficult to give many facts about his life or even to state with confidence that the year 1730 is that of the great artist’s birth, since Heinecken gives 1729 and other writers mention 1736 as being the date.