GOURAUD (Julie). - Lot 52

GOURAUD (Julie). The Two Children of Santo Domingo. Paris: Librairie Hachette et Cie, 1874. — In-18, 189 x 123: (2 ff.), 302 pp., (1 f.), printed cover. Paperback, untrimmed, with a pink shagreen-backed slipcase and a modern bordered case. First edition of this young adult novel, published in the “Bibliothèque rose illustrée” series, recounting the adventures of two children from Saint-Domingue. Mr. and Mrs. Philibert, Creoles from Saint-Domingue, are saved from the 1791 massacre by a devoted slave and settle in France. However, of the two children, the little boy is separated from his parents in the chaos of their flight and taken aboard an English ship. While his parents, having arrived in France, search in vain to find him, he is raised in England by a wealthy merchant. It is not until the end of the book that the entire family is reunited. The edition is illustrated with 54 woodcuts based on works by Émile Bayard, comprising 18 headpieces, 18 tailpieces, and 18 full-page illustrations. One of the rare copies printed on Chinese paper. The spine and edges of the covers are worn; otherwise, the copy is very well preserved.