[BRETON DE LA MARTINIÈRE (Jean Baptiste Joseph). - Lot 60

[BRETON DE LA MARTINIÈRE (Jean Baptiste Joseph). [La Chine en miniature, ou Choix de costumes, arts et métiers de cet Empire]. [Paris: Nepveu, 1811-1812]. - In-18, 129x77. Long-grained dark blue morocco, gilt floral roulette between two gilt fillets framing the boards, richly decorated ribbed spine, inner gilt roulette, gilt edges (period binding). The only atlas to accompany Breton de La Martinière's work published by Nepveu in 1811-1812 under the title La Chine en miniature, ou Choix de costumes, arts et métiers de cet Empire. It consists of 108 black-engraved plates, including 8 fold-outs, depicting costumes, trades, customs and more. This copy also includes, printed on special paper, a facsimile of two letters on three fold-out leaves and four examples of Chinese calligraphy. This is followed by a color print (on woven paper), a double cardboard sheet, pink and printed on the outside and lacquered black on the inside, and 21 special paper samples (straw paper, wicker bark, marshmallow, buckthorn bark, charcoal wood, charcoal bark with its epidermis or crust, willow bark, thistles, oak bark, bardanne and pas-d'ane, poplar bark, moss, reeds, hops, lime bark, marsaut bark, couch grass root, nettle, conferva first species, conferva third species, and bardanne). A very fine copy in a luxurious contemporary binding in the Bozérian style. Minor wear to covers and corners.