Les Saints Évangiles

First edition of the Gospels in Pierre Dassance’s translation. In addition to the four Gospels, it contains an extensive section on Jerusalem with 2 hand-coloured maps and 10 mounted China-paper engravings. The edition is illustrated with 10 steel engravings within elaborate Renaissance-style borders featuring birds, angels, scrolling foliage, and ornamental motifs. Every page of text is likewise surrounded by decorative borders of several repeating designs. Chromolithographic frontispiece and opening page with hand-illuminated title vignette and large historiated initial. A finely produced edition issued by Curmer.

Contemporary full red morocco binding. Spine with raised bands omitted, lavishly gilt with two large mirrored rocaille frames, gilt title and volume numbering. Covers decorated with a central cross and an elaborate rocaille border connected by gilt fillets. Blue marbled edges, blue moiré endpapers. Inner gilt dentelle. Spines slightly faded. Scattered foxing.

A very fine copy.

Bookplates: armorial bookplate of the Château de Montmoyen; second bookplate of Maurice Templier.