Antoine François PRÉVOST

Illustrated edition, one of 175 copies printed on japon impérial with 3 states, one in colors with remarques, one in colors without remarques and one in a single color. The drawing, announced in the justification, is absent but our copy is enhanced with two color proofs with remarques printed on old paper and justified in pencil.
Work illustrated, in first printing, with 15 watercolors by René Lelong, engraved on copper with wash and stipple by Delzers and printed in colors with registration.
Full France blue morocco binding, smooth spine, covers decorated with silver-colored paper plates on three sides, France blue morocco enhanced with a septuple gilt fillet with return of the silver paper plates framing three sides of the pastedowns, the latter and endpapers of marbled paper, original covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on deckled edges, slipcase bordered with blue morocco, binding signed by J. Van West.
Superb copy executed in a charming Art Deco binding.

First edition illustrated with 15 watercolors by René Lelong, engraved on copper with wash and stipple, in the manner of the 18th century, by Delzers, and printed in colors with registration. One of 100 copies printed on bluish Arches paper. The justification mentions an additional color suite which does not appear in this copy.
Copy with the crowned cipher at the foot belonging to Her Royal Highness Henriette of Belgium (1870-1948), Duchess of Vendôme.
Full navy blue morocco binding with bands, lined and signed by Gonin, with mosaic of 2 red fillets. Smooth spine decorated with the author, title and a crowned cipher at the foot, as well as 2 red ribbons. Pastedown composed of 2 moroccos, a navy blue frame with fillets, the second, a large central cobalt square. First endpaper of silk embroidered with gold thread, followed by beautiful blue and gold endpaper. Uncut copy, full-margined, with its blue covers imitating morocco preserved. Rare very pale foxing on the white endpapers and a few scattered throughout.
Superb copy bound by Gonin for Henriette of Belgium. Gonin was the princess's publisher. A talented watercolorist, she illustrated several works including one on Alpine flowers published by Gonin.

First edition of the illustrated version by Tony Johannot, preceded by a historical notice by Jules Janin. 18 plates on China paper laid down on heavy paper and 90 in-text vignettes; frontispiece in camaïeu by Wattier. On the title page, the title displays Manon Lescaut in white letters, a detail indicating a first printing. Beautiful typographical ornaments inspired by the 17th century. The copy is complete with the two half-titles separating the two parts, with a gilt cartouche. Uncut copy with full margins.
Binding in half cherry red glazed calf with marbled decoration. Smooth spine decorated with 2 mirrored tools joined by fillets. Gilt title. Superb handmade wave-patterned paper in yellow, black and pink. Scattered foxing in the margins, on fine white paper. Tissue guards present.
Handsome copy, with fine and typically Romantic illustration, and particularly careful printing.

New edition, the first complete collective edition dating from 1731 and not from 1733 as is often erroneously stated. The first publications of the novel and its sequel were spread from 1728 to 1731. Title pages in red and black. All first editions of this novel are rare, unlike those published after 1750.
Contemporary full brown mottled sheep binding. Smooth decorated spine. Red morocco title and volume labels. A tear with loss to the lower joint at the foot of volume II. One cm lacking on the lower board of volume I (wormhole damage). Rubbing. Fine copy, very fresh. The last 2 leaves of volume IV shorter in margins. Lacking the half-title in volume 2. Two wormholes, then one in volume VI, from the first leaf to the 159th.
19th-century armorial bookplate: Des Chesnes Lambrecht.
Abbé Prévost was one of the principal agitators of letters with Lesage in the first part of the 18th century, and certainly one of the best novelists. His prolixity and facility were criticized but he left with L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut one of the immortal masterpieces of French literature, a sequel that would be condemned to the fire by the Parliament in Paris. It is moreover due to his forced exile, in Holland and England, that the author took this name of d'Exiles. Beyond this, the Memoirs had a profound and lasting success, the subject of a man formerly withdrawn, shaken by his passions and disorders, living his adventures throughout all Europe, with even a chapter in Brazil, knew how to move numerous readers through their novelty, the narrator dwelling at length on the differences in customs. The work testifies to a change in sensibility in letters that Rousseau and Diderot would later recognize.

Popular illustrated edition bringing together 14 titles and more, from the Romans populaires illustrés collection. Drawings by Johannot, Beaucé, Staal, Bertall, Baron... It includes the rare title The Monk by Lewis.
Contents: Valérie by Madame de Krudener. Manon Lescaut by Prévost d'Exiles. Le talisman du coeur by Louis Lurine. La peine du talion by Jules Lacroix. Le règne de Satan by Benjamin Gastineau. Riche et pauvre by Emile Souvestre. Télémaque by Fénelon. Mes prisons by Pellico. La princesse de Montpensier by Madame de Lafayette. Les contes de l'atelier by Michel Masson. Le vicaire de Wakefield by Goldsmith. Simple histoire by Inchbald. 3 plays by Beaumarchais. Printed in 2 columns. A half-title of the Romans populaires illustrés has been bound at the beginning of the work with a table of contents that does not correspond at all to the titles in the volume.
Contemporary half black shagreen binding. Smooth spine decorated with a large romantic ornament and a roll at head and foot. One split at head. Rubbing to edges and headcaps, but good copy, particularly fresh, on crisp white paper, free from foxing.
These popular editions are rare in good condition, and very desirable for the quality of their illustrations. They form a too-forgotten history of romantic publishing.

Edition illustrated with 18 plates, 1 frontispiece as well as 90 text vignettes by Tony Johannot.
Half red shagreen binding with corners, spine with four raised bands set with double blind fillets decorated with double blind compartments enhanced at angles with gilt typographical motifs, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, a slight tear to one edge.
Some foxing.

Edition on vellum paper after 50 on china and on Whatman. Illustrated with a portrait by Braquemont and eight fine and beautiful plates by Monzies after Gravelot and Pasquier.
Contemporary half navy blue morocco with corners signed David. Spine with raised bands richly decorated and inlaid with red lozenges. Fillets on boards. Top edge gilt.
Uncut copy (the edition is usually found in duodecimo format), with wide margins.
Superb copy, in perfect fresh condition.

New edition, illustrated with 12 figures by Desrais. Title pages in red and black. The volumes were successively published in 1731, 1732, 1734 and 1739 and the complete novel would appear for the first time in 1741.
Contemporary marbled full calf bindings. Smooth spine decorated. Red morocco title and volume labels. Marbled edges. Headcaps of volumes I and V worn. Nevertheless a good copy.
It was in England that Abbé Prévost (one of the greatest and most prolific novelists of the 18th century) wrote the English episodes and the utopia of Cleveland which forms part of his early works: in this travel narrative, the hero, "Cromwell's natural son," seeks philosophical certainties and emotional tranquility. To this end he explores the limits and possibilities of love, savage life, Protestant dogmatism, through rich ordeals. Cleveland's American utopia of a new world dies, because there is no redeemed world, founded on natural morality, that can resist evil. Thus, like most of Prévost's works, Cleveland is born from a tension between society and individual aspirations.

New edition, one of numbered copies on vélin du marais paper.
Spots to spine, otherwise a good copy.

First edition limited to 100 copies, ours one of 5 on Holland paper, deluxe copies after 1 on Japan paper.
With a frontispiece portrait of Abbé Prévost.
Small marginal lacks affecting both boards, fine interior condition.