Recueil de Petit Marines; Representant des Navires de Diverses Nations, et de Toutes Especes, sous Differentes voilures..

Paris, 1817. b/w engraved plates. Oblong 4to. 84 (of 120) plates with text interleaved.

Baugean (1764-1819) was a painter and engraver who specialized in marine subjects. In Paris he was appointed engraver to the King. This is a collection of high quality engravings of merchant and naval craft of Europe, England and America. They are accurately and well portrayed, in a number of settings; ships are shown in ports, underway, careened and undergoing various evolutions. Vessel types range from small watercraft through whalers and merchantmen to frigates. Interleaved with the plates are text sections which give a description of subject of each plate (in French). As Polak notes these engravings will be of great use to those who are interested in marine architecture or marine art. Polak 482. (Citing an edition of 150 plates) Brewington Dictionary p. 31. Plate size about 5 x 7 inches. Baugeans work was originally issued in parts. This collection contains all of Vol. I. Vol. II lacks 4 plates. Vol. III is lacking altogether, and Vol. IV lacks 2 plates. The numbers of missing plates are 32, 34, 59-90, 109 and 110. The title page is tanned. Some foxing throughout, but plate areas not too badly affected. Attractively bound in half calf over boards with spine label.