[ALMANACH]. - Lot 38

[ALMANACH]. Small almanac for ladies. Seconde année. Paris : Rosa, [1812]. - In-18, 127 x 78: (15 ff.), 180 pp, (3 ff.), 6 plates. Varnished ochre Bradel-style boards, floral frieze framing the boards, cherub engraved in stippling in the center, ornate smooth spine, gilt edges, modern plexiglass case (period binding). Grand-Carteret, Les Almanachs français, no. 1602. - Culot, Relieurs et reliures décorées en France aux époques Directoire et Empire, no. 190, ill. pl. VI, VII and XI. - Ehrman, "Les reliures au vernis sans odeur, autrement dit "Vernis Martin"", The Book Collector, XIV, 1965, pp. 523-527. - Fabienne Le Bars, Reliures de la Bibliothèque nationale de France [online at: reliures.bnf.fr]. Le Petit almanach des dames appeared from 1811 to 1832, according to Grand-Carteret. This second year contains an ornate title and 6 out-of-text figures engraved on metal by Macret after various artists, each accompanied by a caption leaf. A charming specimen of odorless varnish binding, decorated with fine two-tone engravings. This type of binding, known as "vernis Martin" or odorless varnish, was invented by Théodore-Pierre Bertin (1751-1819) at the turn of the 19th century. Our copy does not bear the dry stamp or patent label sometimes found. This example is listed by Paul Culot in his study Relieurs et reliures décorées en France aux époques Directoire et Empire (PC24). In the field of bookbinding, Théodore-Pierre Bertin must also be credited with the production of bindings known as "vernis sans odeur" (odorless varnish), also improperly called "vernis Martin" (Martin varnish) in reference to the varnish developed in Paris in 1728 by the Martin brothers in the field of furniture; this varnish made it possible to obtain at lower cost the varnished appearance of oriental lacquers, which were then newly fashionable in France. At the turn of the 19th century, Bertin adapted this process to the production of varnished cardboard bindings [...]. Production of these atypical bindings, always in small formats (in-12 or in-8), remained marginal and very limited in time" (Fabienne Le Bars). This copy comes from the superb collection of Michel Wittock. It was featured in Musea Nostra (Ghent, 1996, p. 69, ill.) and Une vie, une collection (Brussels, 2008, no. 61, ill.). Binding skilfully restored since the Wittock sale. Minor rubbing to spine ends, varnish cracking, foxing. Provenance: Michel Wittock, with bookplate (VII, no. 79).