Nicolas-Toussaint CHARLET

First printing of this collection of engravings illustrating the works of Béranger. A frontispiece and a portrait in black, 50 steel engravings hand-colored.
Rare colored copy of these fine engravings considered among the pinnacles of Romantic steel engraving.
Contemporary full red shagreen binding. Raised band spine decorated with mirrored tools and fillets. Upper cover with monogram C. F. Both covers with blind frame and large tools in corners, doubled with a second blind frame. Rich interior border. Edges gilt. Traces of rubbing. One corner slightly bumped. Some foxing spots in margins.

Autograph letter signed by the painter specialized in Empire scenes Nicolas Toussaint Charlet to his publisher: "Avez vous eu l'obligeance de voir avec M. Bostein au sujet de mon traité c'est on ne peut plus urgent car il va falloir livrer. Vous savez combien il y a de raisons de traîner ces affaires ; donc il faut battre le fer tant qu'il est chaud. [...]" ["Have you had the kindness to see M. Bostein about my treatise, it is most urgent as we will have to deliver. You know how many reasons there are to drag out these affairs; therefore we must strike while the iron is hot. [...]"]

Amusing autograph letter signed by the engraver Nicolas Toussaint Charlet to the Gihaut brothers, engravers, inviting them to dinner and asking them to bring Champagne wine.
"Charlet invite M.M. Gihaut frères, éditeurs de l'oeuvre de Géricault etc...
à venir dîner dimanche avec lui, s'ils étaient hommes à envoyer dimanche matin quelques bouteilles de Champagne ou les acompterait.
Nous serons 12. Il faudrait au moins 4 bouteilles
Il compte sur eux il n'y a aucun moyen de refuser
Salut et amitié
Charlet" ["Charlet invites MM. Gihaut brothers, publishers of Géricault's works etc...
to come dine with him on Sunday, if they were men to send some bottles of Champagne on Sunday morning or would advance payment for them.
We will be 12. At least 4 bottles would be needed
He counts on them there is no way to refuse
Greetings and friendship
Charlet"]

Keepsake lyrique. Recueil de 12 romances, chansonnettes et cavatines
Leduc, Paris 1835, 24,6x31cm, full morocco binding.
First edition of this music collection by Rossini, Meyerbeer, Halevy, Bellini, Caraf, Donizetti... with 12 lithographs by Eugène Isabey, Gavarni, Devéria, Charlet, Bellange, Camille Rogier, Monthelier, on chine paper, mounted on thick paper.
Contemporary full purple morocco binding, housed in a goffered cloth case, spine pictorially decorated and lettered in gilt, covers decoratively stamped in blind, pink moiré silk endpapers, all edges gilt, printed on fine paper.
Slightly rubbed.
Superb copy.
Remarkable example of salon music that embellished the evenings during the Bourbon Restoration in France.