Full Calf
1813 · Paris
by Breton de la Martiniere, Jean-Baptiste Joseph (1777-1852)
Paris: Nepveu, 1813. Full Calf. Very Good. 8vo. 13.5 by 8.5 cm. With 111 engraved plates, 105 of which are hand-colored, and many are also folding. (Note that not all copies of this work, same edition, have color plates.) The plates include costume-oriented, genre scenes, architecture (yurts to palaces), and views of Moscow, St. Petersburg and small towns and countryside, and as noted in the very long title, based on artworks by French painter M. F. Damame-Demartrait (1763-1827), with the views after original works by English artist Robert Ker-Porter (1777-1842), who also, we would add, served as a historical painter to the Tsar himself. Colas 436. Brunet I 1226. The binding is a handsome contemporary (or near contemporary) navy blue full calf, with gilt ruled borders on the boards and gilt floret decoration on the spine, making this a set with a most attractive shelf presence. There is occasional foxing and soiling within, which cumulatively, scarcely detracts. The coloring in the plates is bright and rich.
(Inventory #: 004634)