Eugène Paillet 1829-1901

Eugène Paillet was born in 1829, in Paris. He was a successful lawyer and judge, serving for many years as “juge d’instruction” (investigating magistrate) and also as assisting judge (“conseiller”) at the French court of appeal.

Paillet was one of the great French bibliophiles of nineteenth century Paris. Fine and rare books were his passion and over the years he assembled a fine collection, specialising particularly in the eighteenth century, but acquiring also a notable collection of first editions and other significant publications. He was particularly interested in acquiring a number of different editions of the same work in order to illustrate the history of its publication. When Roger Portalis came to list the highlights of this collection in 1902, after Paillet’s death, he included the 1475 Milan edition of St Augustine’s Confessions now owned by the University of Leeds. However in 1887, Paillet decided to sell his collection (including this work) to the bookseller MM Morgand et Fatout, reputedly for half a million francs. Portalis suggests that Paillet wanted to realise the value tied up in the collection for the benefit of his family, but also that the collection was so extensive that it had become difficult to find further works which merited purchase. Whatever the reason for the sale, Paillet maintained his love of books and continued to acquire them, so that a second notable collection was listed and sold after his death in 1901.

Paillet was a prominent figure in Paris cultural life, and maintained links with many notable book enthusiasts, both at home and abroad. He regularly travelled to England, perhaps because of his friendship with the duc d’Aumale, who counted a London residence among his several properties. Paillet was one of the founding members of the Société des Amis du Livre in 1874 and served as its president from 1880 until his death. Members met for a monthly dinner, but Paillet also offered a regular “at home” on a Sunday afternoon at his house on the rue de Berlin, and this too provided a focus for many of the Society’s members.