Edward George Bulwer LYTTON

Second edition, luxurious reprint of the illustrated first edition published in 1834. 16 plates (views of the Rhine, monuments...), including a frontispiece and bust portrait of the author and 12 steel vignettes. The illustration by D. Roberts is finely engraved and particularly successful. Printed on tinted vellum, the plates on heavy vellum.
Publisher's full black shagreen binding. Raised spine richly decorated, gilt title and date. Gilt decoration on boards with a central amphora and rococo frame. Interior frieze. All edges gilt. A copy of beautiful freshness.
Autograph signature of Xavier Marmier as bookplate on verso of first endpaper.
Novel illustrated by a journey on the Rhine, composed of various Rhenish legends. A particularly romantic vision of the Rhine.

New edition of the French translation established under the direction of P. Lorain and with the author's authorization.
Half brown shagreen binding, smooth spine decorated with double black compartments, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges.
Hawker's stamp on the title page, a black stain affecting the edges of some leaves, otherwise a handsome copy.

New edition of the French translation.
Half black shagreen bindings, spine with four raised bands decorated with black compartments, black paper boards with scratches, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges, three corners slightly bumped, contemporary bindings signed in blind by Bonvoisin.
An ink stain affecting the edges of the second volume.
Provenance: from the library of the painter Hector Giacomelli with his pen-written gift inscriptions at the head of the blank endpapers.

First edition of the French translation established by A.J.B. Defauconpret.
Half sheep binding in fir green, smooth spine decorated with gilt triple compartments and ornaments, gilt and blind fillets, minor rubbing to headcaps and joints without significance, marbled paper boards, corners and edges lightly rubbed, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.
Provenance: from the library of Adolphe Thiers with his manuscript signature as bookplate at the head of an endpaper.
Some minor foxing.
Rare.

Edition from the year of the first edition.
Half fir-green shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands showing slight traces of rubbing decorated with gilt floral motifs, minimal lack to one headcap, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.
Some light foxing, some marginal translation notes in pencil in the text.