Ernest MEISSONIER

First edition of this celebrated illustrated publication, issued in Paris by H.-L. Delloye in 84 parts between February 1842 and October 1843 and subsequently gathered into three volumes. Carteret described it as an “admirable publication printed on stout wove paper [...] one of the finest of the 19th century”, comparing the quality of its production to that of the great illustrated books of the 18th century. Carteret III, 143-153; Vicaire II, 234-248.

The first volume comprises 5 unnumbered leaves - half-title...

A fine edition complete with all 12 steel engravings with tissue guards after paintings by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Philippe de Champaigne, and Hyacinthe Rigaud, and its chromolithographic title page. Leafs containing the Discourse on Universal History  framed by floral, zoomorphic, figural and armorial interlaced borders. This copy is further enhanced with elaborate decorated initials and tailpieces, and a black-and-white frontispiece opening each part.

 Second issue of the first illustrated edition of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, distinguished by the small bat vignette on the title-page.

Publisher’s neo-Gothic binding in full brown polychrome cloth, the smooth spine gilt-stamped with an allegory of Notre-Dame de Paris, the boards adorned with an extensive gilt and polychrome design (red, blue, and pink) depicting scenes from Notre-Dame de Paris, yellow endpapers and pastedowns, shaded white flyleaves, all edges gilt, a characteristic Romantic publisher’s cloth binding. Spine evenly faded. Minute split at the head of the upper joint. One leaf detached, two others working loose. Occasional marginal foxing.

Work embellished with...

New illustrated edition, one of 35 copies printed on chamois vellum, deluxe issue following 25 copies on China paper.

Contemporary Bradel bindings in half Bordeaux morocco with marbled paper boards, smooth spines, corners in morocco, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers bound in. Binding signed by Carayon.

This 1882 edition is a reissue of the 1844 edition illustrated by Charles François Daubigny, Valentin Foulquier, Thoedor Josef Hoffbauer, Victor Hugo, Tony Johannot, Aimé de Lemud, Ernest Meissonier, Célestin Nanteuil, Camille Roqueplan, Louis Henri de Rudder and Louis Steinheil...

Complete with the double-page map of Paris inserted between pages...

 Second impression of the first illustrated edition of Victor Hugo's masterpiece.

Some light foxing.

Publisher's full black cloth binding, smooth spine decorated with a gilt allegory of Notre-Dame de Paris, covers adorned with elaborate gilt designs depicting scenes from Notre-Dame de Paris, yellow paper endpapers and pastedowns, shaded white flyleaves, all edges gilt. A fine example of the publisher's romantic binding.

Illustrated with plates by Charles François Daubigny, Valentin Foulquier, Thoedor Josef Hoffbauer, Tony Johannot, Aimé de Lemud, Ernest Meissonier, Célestin Nanteuil, Camille Roqueplan, Louis Henri de Rudder, and Louis Steinheil...

A splendid copy...