LESAGE (Alain René). - Lot 83

LESAGE (Alain René). History of Gil Blas de Santillane. Paris: Paulin, 1835. - Large in-8, long-grained anthracite-gray morocco, gilded fillets framing and gilded arabesques at the corners of the boards, ribbed spine decorated in the same spirit, multiple gilded fillets framing the interior, gray moiré silk lining and endpapers, gilded edges on witnesses, cover and spine preserved, anthracite-gray morocco spine and cover bands folder, case (Huser). One of the most beautiful Romantic illustrated books, with a frontispiece portrait of Gil Blas on chine, and over 450 vignettes, all wood-engraved after Jean Gigoux, whose main production made him famous. This edition is truly important in the history of the book, because more than a "renovation", as Carteret puts it, it gave a real "boost" to the publishing world. Indeed, it was the first production illustrated with woodcuts to enjoy widespread commercial success, prompting other booksellers to snatch up the engravers and subsequently publish the many fine Romantic editions we know today. In addition to Gigoux's 450 or so vignettes, there are a hundred or so lettrines, forming veritable little tableaux. Some are by Gigoux, but those with naturalistic motifs are by Louis Français, then a pupil of Gigoux, who was to become one of the most renowned illustrators of the Romantic period. A superb pamphlet-bound copy by Huser, complete with boards and spine of the front cover dated 1836. Enriched with the publication prospectus for this edition, bound at the end, as well as the unbound prospectus for "Le Diable boiteux". Spine of dust jacket faded.