18th Century Illustrated Books

Complete new edition of Buffon's works, published in Paris by Eymery between 1825 and 1828 according to the arrangement established by the Comte de Lacépède and completed by the supplementary volume issued in 1828. A handsome complete set in 26 bound volumes (13.5 × 21 cm; total shelf length: 103 cm), illustrated with 245 plates: Buffon's portrait engraved by Devéria as the frontispiece, 216 hand-coloured plates - some heightened with gold - including 91 devoted to mammals and 126 to birds, 13 plates in black, and 4 folding maps. Most of the coloured plates were executed by Jean-Gabriel Prêtre, the animal painter successively attached to Empress Joséphine's menagerie...

First edition illustrated with 200 color drawings by Pierre Vidal. Limited to 700 numbered copies, No. 294. Original illustrated covers and spine preserved. Printed on tinted coated vellum.
Modern chocolate half morocco Bradel binding with corners. Jansenist spine with 4 raised bands. Leaf 49 with censoring in lower margin (a hole with paper rubbing). Spine faded on the first 2 compartments. Good copy.

Edition translated by Defaucompret. Each volume has an engraved title accompanied by a vignette and at least 2 steel engravings per work (all on strong laid paper), the animated scenes are by Tony Johannot, the views are English engravings. 23 folding maps heightened in colors.
Contemporary half morocco binding with long grain in wine-lees color. Smooth spine decorated with rocaille tools. Marbled edges. Spines have become uniformly blonde. In volume II, a small lack to the lower joint at head. Pale scattered foxing, but the set relatively fresh, with paper remaining white, as well as the engravings.

Important critical edition, with all the author's prefaces for the...

First edition published in 20 instalments, illustrated with wood-engraved vignettes in the text after Célestin Nanteuil, Français, Karl Girardet, Jules David, etc., and 20 copper-engraved or lithographed plates after Diaz, Decamps, Hazé, A. Guignet, E. Hedouin, Théodore Chasseriau, Alophe, Couture, etc. The original covers of all instalments are bound at the end. The covers erroneously announce 30 engravings instead of the 20 actually included.
Later binding in red Russian half morocco with corners, spine in five raised bands richly gilt, date in gilt at foot, gilt fillet frame on pasteboard covers. Considerable rubbing and bumped corners.

One of 100 copies of the magazine printed on China paper for issues 1 to 11. The specimen issue and no. 12 are on laid paper. Our copy is complete with the spine and covers of the general binding, and the twelve illustrated covers.
First edition of the complete collection of L'image, published between 1896 and 1897.
All issues of the magazine are bound together under a half sheep binding with corners, spine with five raised bands titled in gilt, marbled paper boards. Some rubbing.
Scattered foxing and marginal tears.
Complete copy of this magazine founded by the young French corporation of wood engravers, and published by the publisher of...

First edition, illustrated with drawings by Minartz engraved on wood by Paillard. Limited edition of only 138 numbered copies on Marais laid paper. 3 plates including one frontispiece, 56 headpieces illustrating Parisian nightlife, shows... The illustration achieving close correspondence with the poems (the opera, merry-go-rounds, cabarets...).
Near-contemporary Bradel binding in half morocco with old rose corners. Smooth Jansenist spine. Author and title in gilt. Covers and spine preserved. Fine paper freshness, with foxing on fore edge and very rare and pale internal foxing. Spine slightly faded, or having turned uniformly.

Engraved bookplate of Jacques Crépineau...