SAINT-PIERRE (Bernardin de).

Lot 268
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Estimation :
2500 - 3000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 2 528EUR
SAINT-PIERRE (Bernardin de).
Paul et Virginie. Paris, Curmer, 1838. In-8, contemporary binding in chestnut chagrin lined with the same, double framed with multiple gilt fillets and two cold scrolls on the boards with in the centre an elegant gilt decoration of arabesque and roses executed with small irons, lining entirely decorated with a variant of this decoration, spine with nerves decorated in the same way, white moire endpapers, gilt edges (Lesné). 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. "The pearl of 19th century illustrated books" (J. Brivois). The copy contains the first title, with the address of the rue Sainte-Anne. Attached, bound in its place, a second state of page 418 containing the engraving of the good woman. The portrait of the Doctor drawn by Tony Johannot, completed late, is here replaced by the English portrait by the same artist. A superb copy, complete with all printed serpents and free of foxing, covered strictly in the period with a very elegant lined and decorated binding signed by Mathurin Lesné (active from 1809 to 1841). Very rare in this condition. Attached to the copy, mounted on blank leaves bound at the head: - three autograph letters signed by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, namely: a) A letter of thanks addressed to the citizen Le Danois, member of the Comité des Anciens, one page in-8 with address and red wax seal, dated 17 fructidor year V. b) A letter dated Paris, March 19, 1809 addressed to Mr. Hubin, member of the Society of Literature of Brussels, one page and half in-4 with address. Regretting to have caused a "small scandal" to "your kind ladies", he defends himself from being against the laws of providence: "I do not doubt it, and I have used a few good pages of the end of my pastoral to prove that the very death of Virginie is a proof of it". c) A letter addressed to his wife, dated Eragny June 8, 1811, one and a half pages in-8. He announces his arrival in the country: "Tuesday evening I will have the pleasure to embrace you, while waiting to cover my son with kisses for you and for me, while waiting for us to be able to share them with my hard-working daughter". - an autograph note signed by Mrs. Campan, signed by Genet Campan, on the letterhead of the Legion of Honour. House Imperial Napoleon, dated Ecouen, August 16, 1812, addressed to Monsieur Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, Member of the Legion of Honor, one page in-4. She has the honor to "give him today Mlle de Saint Pierre (Virginie), pupil of the house Imperial of Ecouen". Slight browning to the serpents and in the white margin of some plates, small stain in the lower margin of six leaves. From the Charles Hayoit library with ex-libris.
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