Lot n° 267
Estimation :
12000 - 15000
EUR
SAINT-PIERRE (Bernardin de).
Paul and Virginia.
Paris, L.Curmer, 25 rue Sainte-Anne, 1838
In-8, blue morocco lined with light lavaliere morocco, gilt fillets on the boards, important semis of violets, flowers and leaves gilt and mosaic of green and purple in a frame of gilt fillets criss-crossing in diamonds on the linings, gilt edges on witnesses, dark blue moire endpapers, double covers and spine kept (Marius Michel).
First edition.
29 wood-engraved plates and 7 steel-engraved portraits printed on chine appliqué and protected by silk serpents bearing the printed legend, a coloured map of the Ile de France printed on chine appliqué and about 450 wood-engraved vignettes in the text; the portraits were drawn by Laffitte, Tony Johannot and Meissonier, the wood-engraved illustrations are due to Meissonier, Français, Tony Johannot, Isabey, Huet, Marville, Steinheil, etc.
Famous edition, emblem of the Romantic period and "pearl of the illustrated books of the 19th century", according to
Jules Brivois.
A famous copy of Descamps-Scrive - Carteret, described at length by the latter, one of the most important and beautiful known.
Printed on China paper, with the first title with the address of the rue Saint-Anne and the very rare first blue squared cover in perfect condition, complete with all its printed serpents and the coloured map of Ile de France, it has been enriched with the following pieces: 1° The cover printed in gold on white glossy paper illustrated with an Indian motif in the centre of the boards, also very rare, intended for present copies for the New Year's Day 1838, here preserved with its spine in mint condition.
2° The two covers of a delivery of the Galerie des portraits for Paul et Virginie and La
Chaumière indienne at the address of the rue de Richelieu; at the bottom of the first plate, stamp of the collection
Philippe Burty.
3° The seven portraits in their final state on chine appliqué, to which we have added: a) Bernardin de Saint-Pierre.
- a proof before the sphere and before any letter on chine appliqué; - a blank proof before the printer's name.
(b) Marguerite.
- a blank proof with the names of the artists in point; - a blank proof with the engraved names.
(c) Mme de La Tour.
- a blank proof before any letter; - the English portrait on chine applied with the letter.
(d) Virginie.
- one proof on pure etching on applied chine; - one proof on white before any letter.
(e) Paul.
- one pure etching proof on white; - one proof on white with names of artists in point.f) The Doctor.
- a pure etching on chine applied with some retouching in pencil bearing the cache of the Philippe Burty collection; - a proof on white with the names of the artists in the point; - the English portrait on chine applied with the letter.
g) La jeune Bramine.
- a proof with the star on chine applied before any letter and with the frame; - a proof on white before the fillet and before any letter.
4° The portrait of the good woman printed separately on chine mounted on large chine.
5° Three autograph letters signed and dated by the bibliographers Brivois and Vicaire, two of them with stamped envelopes, letters relating to the description of this precious copy.
These documents, fully reproduced by Carteret (III, 538 to 541), then owner of the copy, have been carefully mounted at the head of the volume.
Exceptional set in perfect condition, covered with a very beautiful mosaic binding by Marius Michel.
From the libraries of René Descamps-Scrive (II, 1925, n° 169) with bookplate; Léopold Carteret, with a note in pencil signed by him on the first endpaper: "Precious copy on China paper described in the Trésor du bibliophile, containing the correspondence of the bibliographers, artist's proofs and pure etchings that cannot be found, and two very rare covers in new condition"; Henri Bonasse and Laurent Meeûs (Wittock, n° 455), with their bookplates.
Case enclosed.
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