(Architectural photo album)   HOTEL DE BOUSSAIROLLES         (Montpellier, ca   1890s).          A remarkable photo album documenting a significant architectural landmark in the center of Montpellier France just prior to its demolition. The Hotel de Boussairolles was a large, three-story urban villa, with private enclosed gardens, located directly on the Place de la Comedie. It was demolished in the late 19th century, apparently as part of some larger urban development. The photograph album presented here was prepared to document the building, and in particular its luxurious interior, prior to demolition. Fourteen of the more important rooms are shown, fully furnished. Particularly impressive are the circular vestibule, entirely decorated in marble, with an elaborately carved frieze and cornice beneath a panelled marble dome. There is also an impressive "grand salon" with decoratively carved rococo boiserie, and other rooms with delicately hand modeled plaster wall and cornice decorations. Another salon on the second floor is decorated entirely with a variety of colored marble panels and columns. The album may have been commissioned by the firm which disassembled the buildings and later resold the interiors. On many of the pages which show the most impressive rooms there are lengthy hand-written notes describing the architectural pieces which have been preserved and were available for sale. It seems possible that the album was originally made by whoever undertook the salvage operations and later resale of the boiseries, marble work and other interior features of these magnificent house. In any case, it clearly served, for at least some period of time, as the visual catalogue of the architectural items which would have been in storage awaiting installation in some other location.   Oblong folio album (33.5 x 43.5 cm); 23 albumen photographs mounted on heavy card stock.            Original leather with metal corners and clasp; two or three photographs faded at edges, but most images clear and dark. $1,800.00

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