Claudius Saunier - Traité d'horlogerie moderne, théorique et pratique. Paris 1887, Troisième édition, dite Edition Détouche.

2 Vol. In 4°, cloth binding.

E. Vial & C. Côte - Les horlogers Lionnais de 1550 à 1650. Paris 1927.

1 Vol. In 4°, paper wraps.

Pierre Le Roy à Paris, No. 1247, with the Paris hallmarks for 1762. Extremely rare and fine 18 ct. three coloured gold, à-tact and dumb quarter- repeating watch with special escapement.

C. Double body, Louis XV, the bezel chased with the twelve signs of the zodiac, the back with a fine three coloured gold representation of the terrestrial globe and the allegorical figures of the four seasons, an equation of time table engraved on the border. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, frictional rest escapement drawn from that of Debaufre, with two escape wheels facing each other and a single pallet on the balance staff. Plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock and garnet end-stone. Repeating on the case by depressing the pendant, with tactile piece in the bezel . Signed on the dial and the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 44 mm.

Pierre Le Roy à Paris No. 752, circa 1750. Extremely rare silver pair cased, quarter-repeating watch with a special escapement.

C. Contemporary inner and outer cases. Double body inner, bassine, pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage. Double body outer, repousse with a scene depicting "Dianne chasseresse" with her dogs with outer pierced and engraved scrolled decoration. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with baluster pillars, fusee with chain, frictional rest escapement drown from that of Debaufre, with two escape wheel facing each other and a single pallet shaped as a flat vide-open cone on the balance staff. Plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental Louis XV cock and garnet endstone. Repeating on a bell (lacking) by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial and back plate. In good condition. Diam. 53 mm.

Three extremely rare and unusual watch movements representing developments connected or inspired by the work of Julien and Pierre Le Roy.

Pierre Le Roy & Carré à Paris, No. 614, circa 1755- 1760 with the frictional rest escapement of Debaufre type, as improved by Pierre Le Roy the Eldest, Brother of Julien. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, frictional rest escapement drawn from that of Debaufre, with two escape wheels facing each other and a single pallet, shaped as a flat vide-open cone, on the balance staff. Plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental Louis XV cock and garnet end-stone. In good condition. Diam. 38 mm. Made on the model of that devised by Pierre Le Roy, the Eider, the brother of Julien, this frictional rest escapement is very similar to that described in Histoire et Mémoires de l'Académie Royale des Sciences, for 1742, Paris 1745, pp. 158-161, and in Gallon: Recueil des Machines et Inventions approuvées par l' Académie Royale des Sciences, 1742, No.449, Vol. VII, Paris 1777, pp. 128-138 with plate. This movement is described and illustrated by Ch. Allix and G. Brusa : Antiquarian Horology, June 1972, an off-print copy is coming with the watch. David Carré No. 361, circa 1750. Very fine watch movement. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. M. Gilt brass full plate with baluster pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental Louis XV cock and agate end-stone. In good condition. Diam. 38 mm. This movement is representative of the wok of David Carré before he joined Pierre Le Roy the Elder. David Carré was a relative of the Le Roys. hz 1743 he had been apprenticed to the celebrated Julien. He joined Pierre Le Roy the Eider as partner and later had a shop in Rue Dauphine. He died in 1779. Quoniam l'Aîné à Paris, No. 309, circa 1770. Rare and unusual centre-seconds, fuseeless watch movement with double calendar and special escapement. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring, small apertures for the day of the month and the day of the week. Gold "poker and beetle" hands. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fixed barrel with revolving arbor, Sully type frictional rest escapement having the " pallets" cut along the verge, similar to those devised by the eminent Pierre Le Roy, but with a less elaborate escape wheel, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock with polished steel end-piece. The index for the regulation of the balance spring, pivoting at the top of the verge, under an end-stone and the coqueret. In good condition. Diam. 40 mm. Joseph Quoniam l'Aîné, Paris, became Maître in 1740, he died in 1772. The present movement appears to be one of his last works. Lot of 3 pieces.

Julien Le Roy à Paris. A group of 3 movements which demonstrate the development of his improvements concerning the repeating work of watches.

In 1740 he devised a new arrangement allowing the enlargement of the area for the repeating work. This invention, called à b â t e l e v é e , was adopted by all his fellow watchmakers. In 1755 he devised a nere repeating train regulated by a small anchor escapement which was also adopted by the best of French watchmakers. The dates for these two inventions are engraved on the dia] plates. They are useful to date the watches with precision. Julien Le Roy à Paris No. 1827. One of the earliest repeaters à bâte levée, with the inscription for 1740. D. Lacking. M. GiIt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass Louis XV continental cock with polished steel end-piece. In good condition. Diam. 42 mm. Julien Le Roy à Paris No. 2797. One of the latest repeaters with the inscription for 1740. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring (hair cracks), the date of 1753 appears on the enamel backing after the signature of Julien, a famous dial maker of the time. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass Louis XV continental cock with garnet end-stone. In good condition. Diam. 40 mm. Julien Le Roy à Paris No. 3373. One of the earliest repeaters embodying the anchor escapement to regulate the repeating mechanism and bearing the inscription for 1740 and 1755. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass Louis XV continental cock with garnet end-stone. In good condition. Diam. 40 mm. Lot of 3 pieces.

Julien Le Roy à Paris No. 2268, Inventé par julien Le Roy en 1749. Extremely rare and fine, perhaps unique 18 ct. gold, dumb quarter-repeating watch, the repeating mechanism without spring.

C. Double body, Louis XV, polished, bearing the Paris hallmarks for 1744-1750. D. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring and subsidiary seconds. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental Louis XV cock with agate end-stone. Most unusual repeating mechanism, operated without the use of a train of wheels or any springs to provide power. A small lever, mounted at 1 o'clock in the band, is pulled outwards, indicating the quarters by the relevant numbers of single clicks and in turn releasing the rack onto the snail. The hours are then given by pumping the pendant and counting the blows from 1 to 6, the day being divided in four parts. Signed on the dial, back plate and dial plate. In very good condition. Diam. 47 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 3827, made by his son Pierre for the Duke of Lorraine, circa 1763. Very rare and important 18 ct. gold mounted, diamond-set agate watch with the fusee renverses invented by Monsieur Le Roy.

C. Double body, Louis XV, the agate bezel carved with rocaille decoration and set with small diamonds, the back, worked in cameo, is carved with a seated figure of Clotho, one of the Fates, with outer rocaille decoration, the thumb piece set with a large rose-cut diamond. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring ( slightly restored on the border of the winding hole). diamond-set Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass, full plate with baluster pillars, upsidedown fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais "J.L.R." standing for Julien Le Roy, polished steel end-piece. Signed on the dial and the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 49 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 3896, made by his son Pierre, circa 1764. Fine and rare 18 ct. gold watch with the fusee renversee invented by Monsieur Le Roy.

C. Double body, Louis XV, engine-turned in a basket-work pattern. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass, full plate with baluster pillars, upside-down fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais "J.L.R." standing for Julien Le Roy, polished steel endpiece. Signed on the dial and the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 47 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 4346, made by his son Pierre, with Paris hallmarks for 1769-1770. Fine and rare 18 ct. three coloured gold watch with the fusee renversee invented by Monsieur Le Roy.

C. Double body, Louis XVI, the bezel chased with a formai decoration, the back decorated with a basket of flowers, musical and gardening trophies. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass, full plate with baluster pillars, upside-down fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais "J.L.R." standing for Julien Le Roy, polished steel end-piece. Signed on the dial and the back plate. h 1 very good condition. Diam. 44 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, made by his son Pierre, No. 3754, circa 1760. Fine 18 ct. three coloured gold, quarter-repeating watch.

C. Double body, Louis XVI, the bezel chased with a format decoration, the back decorated with a urn of flowers, and outer laurel leaves and ribbon knot (rubbed), the border pierced to let the sound out. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais: "J.L.R.", polished steel end-piece. Repeating on a bell by depressing the pendant with the anchor escapement used as a regulator for the striking train. Signed on the dial and back plate, the dial plate engraved with the inscription: Inventé par Jul. Le Rot/ en 1740 et le rouage en 1755. In good condition. Diam. 45 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 3708, made by his son Pierre, circa 1760. Very fine 18 ct. three coloured gold, dumb quarter-repeating watch.

C. Double body, Louis XVI, the bezel chased with a leaf decoration, the back decorated with a fine urn of flowers and outer rocaille decoration. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Diamond-set Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais: "J.L.R.", with agate end-stone. Repeating on the case by depressing the pendant with the anchor escapement used as a regulator for the striking train. Signed on the dial and back plate, the dial plate engraved with the inscription: Inventé par Jul. Le Roi/ en 1740 et le rouage en 1755. In very good condition. Diam. 45 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 4536, made by his son Pierre, with the Paris hallmarks for 1771-1772. Very fine and historical 18 ct. four coloured gold, dumb quarter-repeating watch.

C. Double body, Louis XVI, the bezel chased with a leaf decoration, the back decorated with astronomical instruments connected with the finding of longitude at sea and with a commemorative bust of a man who has been identified as Julien Le Roy. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais: "J.L. R.", polished steel end-piece. Repeating on the case by depressing the pendant with the anchor escapement used as a regulator for the striking train. Signed on the dial and back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 44 mm.

Le Roy à Paris, circa 1770, made by the eminent Pierre Le Roy, son of Julien. Extremely rare and important silver skeletonized watch with special escapement.

C. Specially made, slightly later, double body with glazed back and polished bezels. D. Contemporary, white enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring (restored). Gold Louis XV hands. M. Fully skeletonized, hinged gilt brass full plate with baluster pillars, fusee with chain, special Sully type frictional rest escapement as improved by Pierre Le Roy for the so-called La Petite Ronde. Plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring and garnet end-stone. Signed on the movement. In good condition. Diam. 46 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, Invenit et Fecit, No. 4732, made by his son Pierre, circa 1774. Extremely rare and important movement of a centre-seconds watch, so called "Petite Ronde", divised by Pierre Le Roy à l'usage des astronomes et des marins.

D. Later white enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, frictional rest escapement of Sully type, improved by Pierre Le Roy, with the typical "spider" escape wheel, three-arm balance with gold studs, flat balance spring regulation with unusual index, small cock with one foot only and ruby end-stone. The traces of a compensation device reveal the system devised by Pierre Le Roy for this timekeeper which evidently belongs to the very rare group of the so called La Petite Ronde, intended for use at sea. The bimetallic compensation consists of two blades acting through ail arm upon the regulating index. In good condition.

Julien Le Roy à Paris No. 4934, made by his son Pierre circa 1777. An extremely rare small size movement, embodying the Sully type escapement as improved by Pierre Le Roy.

D. Lacking. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, frictional rest escapement of Sully type as improved by Pierre Le Roy with the typical "spider" escape wheel, for pocket watches à l'usage des astronomes et des marins. Plain steel three-arm-balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initials "J.L.R.", polished steel end-piece and regulator with sliding index. In good condition. Diam. 35 num.

Julien Le Roy No. 3604, made by his son Pierre, circa 1760. One of the very unusual and rare repeating movements with cylinder escapement.

D. Later white enamel with Breguet numerals. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, cylinder escapement with plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais "J.L.R.", polished steel end-piece. Some 40 years later it was given two gongs to be fitted in a new case with the later dial. In good condition. Diam. 47 mm. The cylinder escapement vas never favoured by Julien and Pierre Le Roy, therefore movements set with such an escapement are very rare. Julien Le Roy No. 4181, made by his son Pierre, circa 1770. One of the typical repeating movements made circa 1767, nearly ten years after the death of Julien Le Roy and still bearing the inscriptions for his inventions of 1740 and 1755. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais "J.L.R." h1 good condition. Diam. 39 mm. Lot of 2 pieces.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, No. 3449, made by his son Pierre, circa 1758-1759. Extremely rare, perhaps unique, silver watch with an experimental escapement.

C. Contemporary, double body, Louis XV, polished. D. Contemporary, white enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee \vith chain, highly unusual experimental escapement with two concentric wheels, the top one working on a steel semi-cylindrical pallet carried on the balance staff, the Tower one on a pallet similar to that of the verge escapement. Plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock pierced and engraved with the initiais "J.L.R.", garnet end-stone. Signed on the back plate. In good condition. Diam. 43 mm.

Julien Le Roy à Paris, Invenit et Fecit, No. 4757, made by his son Pierre, circa 1774-1775. Highly important and unique 18 ct. gold, centreseconds watch à l'usage des astronomes et des marins, the first ever made in France with a lever escapement.

C. Contemporary, double body, Louis XV, polished. D. Contemporary white enamel vwith Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold Louis XV hands and conterpoised centreseconds. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, heavy counterpoised lateral lever escapement the pallets set with small rollers, three-arm balance with gold studs, flat balance spring, regulator with unusual index, gridiron compensation (reconstructed by George Daniels) acting through an arm upon the regulator index. Signed on the back plate and on the dial plate. In good condition. Diam. 46 mm.

Causard à Paris circa 1750. Fine and rare gilt bronze and porcelain mounted mantle clock with a Strasbourg figurative group by Hanong.

C. Gilt bronze "rocaille" mount supporting the porcelain group with a profuse display of porcelain flowers on cold painted bronze foliage overshadowing the group and framing the gilt bronze "rocaille" clock case. D. White enamel slightly bombe with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gilt brass Louis XV hands. M. Circular brass plates with going barrels, short pendulum with silk suspension, hour and half hour striking on a bell with count wheel on the back plate. Signed on the dial. In good condition. Dim. 48 x 37 x 20 cm.