RACINET (Auguste). - Lot 88

RACINET (Auguste). Le Costume historique. Paris : Librairie de Firmin-Didot et Cie, 1876-1888. - 1 volume of text in-8, 227 x 197: (2 ff.), XLIII, 288 pp. a-z, aa-nn, (2 ff.), printed cover; and 5 volumes of plates in 20 in-8 issues. Volume of text in paperback and plates in leaves in publisher's printed and laced cardboard folder. Colas, 2471. "The most important general collection concerning the costume" (Colas). It was published in 20 issues, each containing 25 plates with explanatory notes, to which was added later a volume of text dated 1888, bearing the indication "Tome I". The set is divided into four parts, the first dealing with classical antiquity, the second with the world outside of Europe, the third with the Christian peoples from the Byzantines onwards, and the last with Europe in modern times. There are a total of 474 plates and not 500 as indicated on the title, because there are 26 double-page plates, each counting for two plates. Colas specifies that "the plates and notices did not appear in numerical order but as they were produced, which is why the publisher has put a sign without a number on them. The volume of text includes at the end twelve tables of sections and patterns. Of the totality of the plates, a majority is in chromolithography, the rest in cameo. Copy as issued, complete with folders, plates, notices and text volume. It is part of what Colas calls the "small edition" to differentiate it from the in-folio edition published at the same time. Some soiling to the folders. Small tears on the edge of the cover of the paperback volume.