BERNARDIN DE SAINT PIERRE (Henri). - Lot 7

BERNARDIN DE SAINT PIERRE (Henri). Paul and Virginie. Paris: L. Curmer, 1838. — In-8, 255 x 160: 159: frontispiece, LVI, 458 pp., (7 ff.), 1 portrait, 34 plates, 1 map. Dark green morocco leather, covers decorated with a border consisting of a thick cold-stamped line, a gold-stamped line, and, on the inside, a straight and curved cold-stamped line set with gold motifs, spine with raised bands decorated in the same style, gilt inner roulette, gilt edges (Ginain R. du Roi). One of the finest illustrated books of the Romantic era, featuring 450 woodcut vignettes within the text, a color map of the Île-de-France region engraved by Dyonnet, and 36 plates—including 7 portraits—on mounted Chinese paper. Only the 7 portraits were engraved on steel; the other plates were woodcuts. These compositions are by Meissonier, Isabey, Tony Johannot, Marville, and others. A first-edition copy bearing the Rue Saint-Anne address, without the captioned serpents. It includes the portrait of the author without the sphere, the portrait of Madame de La Tour engraved by Cousin after Tony Johannot, that of the doctor by Pigeot after Meissonier, and the portrait of the young Brahmin girl without the star on her forehead. A very fine copy bound in the period by Ginain, one of the finest bookbinders of the Romantic era, who worked notably for King Louis Philippe and the Prince of Joinville. Some normal wear and scuffing on the binding. The interior is in perfect condition, except for a minor brown stain in the upper margin of one folio (pp. 539–540). A tear has been restored along the edge of the plate opposite page 62.