RAFFET (Auguste). - Lot 99

RAFFET (Auguste). Retreat from Constantine. Six subjects by Raffet. - Capture of Constantine. Twelve subjects, by Raffet. Paris : Gihaut frères, [1837-1838]. - 2 albums in an in-folio volume, red half-maroquin with corners, gilded fillets, smooth spine decorated, gilded head, untrimmed, covers preserved (Pagnant). Set of two albums by Auguste Raffet dedicated to the conquest of Algeria. The first, published in 1837, includes a title and six plates, while the second, published in 1838, has a title and 12 plates, all lithographed in black. It's worth noting that the two titles echo each other. The first features a soldier wounded after Clauzel's failure, holding out his arm, with the caption: "We'll take it up again in the spring. The title illustration on the second album shows a soldier on guard, with the caption: "They kept their word." After these two albums, Raffet designed other lithographs and subjects on Algeria, separately or in publications such as the famous "Journal de l'Expédition des Portes-de-Fer". A copy comprising the lithographs in a first edition on chine with large glued margins, distinguished from later editions by the presence of the abbreviation "Lith." in the lower left-hand corner before the name Gihaut. A very fine copy bound by Pagnant, complete with covers on which the titles are reproduced. All plates and covers are mounted on tabs. Some rubbing to corners. Scattered foxing, rarely affecting the lithographs.