Ostrreichisch-Ungarische National-Trachten; Nach Der Natur Photographirt Von J. Lowy

Wien: R. Lechner's K.K. Hof-Und Universitats-Buchhandlung, 1888. First edition. Hardcover. Three portfolios, red cloth decorated and lettered in gilt with contrasting border designs, beveled edges. Very good. 3 Vols. Folio, 32 x 23 cm. 24 full color mounted and tipped-in plates in each of the three volumes on gray card stock. All are exceptionally clean and bright. All previously owned by Ilse M. Bischoff Bookseller, 455 East 57 St, in New York with her label inside front cover of each volume. Löwy became known for his industrial photographs, starting from the 1880s, made using heliography. He was also court photographer to Emperor Franz Joseph. The (truncated) author, Franz Gaul (1837-1906), was a talented costume designer, painter, and caricaturist. He studied at the Vienna Academy of Art. Title page printed in red and black in an ornamental frame. Each costume framed plate impeccably brilliant in myriad colors. This scarce collection of twenty-four colorful plates in each of the three volumes depicts Austro-Hungarian national costume. Some of the interior flaps in the tree portfolios lacking. All in all the complete rare collection of a total of 72 plates in the three portfolios. (Inventory #: 24526)