" Paris, Léon Curmer, 1864, 3 vols in-4°, 28 x 20,5 cm, Vol. I ; (6) nn pp + (38) plates ( numbered III-XL) + 170 plates + IV plates (index) , complete, all plates in chromolithography. Vol. II ; (4) nn pp + pp 171 - 362 (containing 200 plates) + (V) plates (index), all plates in chromolithography. (Page numbering erratic as some plates are counted double; recto ; verso. Other plates are unnumbered. (complete). Vol.III ; (6) nn pp + xxxii pp + (172) nn pp + 154 pp + (6) nn pp + 255 pp + (3) nn pp (complete), with 79 original photographs, mounted within large typographical borders with floral motifs. Binding; uniformly bound in violet coloured full morocco, with blindtooling, raised spines with gilt title, top edges gilt. Matching endpapers in watery silk. A fine set, beautifully bound in full morocco. With a private owner stamp on the first blank fly leaf of volume I. With one larger scratch on the front cover of volume I ; futher minimal traces of use and shelf markings. Overall in a fine state of preservation, with a flawless interior. This edition by Léon Curmer (1801-1870) is one of the highlights of French bookillustration in the 19th century before the advance of modern reproduction techniques such as photo engraving and zincography. Curmer had gained success with e.g. the publication in 1838 of '' Paul et Virginie '' illustrated by Meissonier. In his '' Evangiles'' he collected specimen of western medieaval book illustration from all the important manuscripts still extant in France, Italy, Great Britain... He rendered them in chromolithography. In the third volume of this work he extensively explains the origine of the illustrations used in volume I and II. The third volume contains also original photographs of 16th century copper engravings. A very fine copy of an extraordinary and beautifully produced book which will hardly ever be surpassed for the quality of its chromolithographies. It is in a way the culmination of the ever growing interest during the 19th century in the art of mediaeval illustrated manuscripts, which started at the beginning of the century and gave us e.g. in 1833 Henry Shaw's Illuminated Ornaments. (See also Carteret Vol 3 - 226 ).."
Reference : 46958
Antiquariaat Wim de Goeij
M. Wim de Goeij
Max Temmermanlaan 15 - Postbox 39
2920 Kalmthout
Belgium
0032 496 381 439
according the rules of I.L.A.B. suivant les règles du CLAM
Ecclesia Catholica L'Abbé DELAUNAY ( text editor ) - Léon CURMER ( publisher ) :
Reference : 37786
" Paris, Léon Curmer, 1864, ( title leaf ) ; réimprimés en 1872 par la Maison Bachelin Deflorenne, (half title leaf) , 3 vols in-4°, 28 x 20,5 cm, Vol. I ; (6) nn pp + (38) plates ( numbered III-XL) + 170 plates + IV plates (index) , complete, all plates in chromolithography. Vol. II ; (4) nn pp + pp 171 - 362 (containing 200 plates) + (V) plates (index), all plates in chromolithography. (Page numbering erratic as some plates are counted double; recto ; verso. Other plates are unnumbered. (complete). Vol.III ; (6) nn pp + xxxii pp + (172) nn pp + 154 pp + (6) nn pp + 255 pp + (3) nn pp (complete), with 79 original photographs, mounted within large typographical borders with floral motifs. Binding; uniformly bound in full bright red leather with a large renaissance style decoration on both covers consisting of dark green inlaid leather borded with ciselled gilt lines and patches. Raised gilt spine also with inlaid decorations, all edges gilt. Bindings signed at lower end of spine '' A. Ségouin, Paris''. A stunning binding in a near perfect state of preservation. This edition by Léon Curmer (1801-1870) is one of the highlights of French bookillustration in the 19th century before the advance of modern reproduction techniques such as photo engraving and zincography. The book was published in 1864. The half title indicates that this copy of the edition was published by Bachelin in 1872. ( We collated this edition against a Curmer 1864 edition and can confirm that this text addition is the only difference. This leads to the conclusion that both editions belong to the same printing run ). Curmer had gained success with e.g. the publication in 1838 of '' Paul et Virginie '' illustrated by Meissonier. In his '' Evangiles'' he collected specimen of western medieaval book illustration from all the important manuscripts still extant in France, Italy, Great Britain... He rendered them in chromolithography. In the third volume of this work he extensively explains the origine of the illustrations used in volume I and II. The third volume contains also original photographs of 16th century copper engravings. A very fine copy of an extraordinary and beautifully produced book which will hardly ever be surpassed for the quality of its chromolithographies. It is in a way the culmination of the ever growing interest during the 19th century in the art of mediaeval illustrated manuscripts, which started at the beginning of the century and gave us e.g. in 1833 Henry Shaw's Illuminated Ornaments. (See also Carteret Vol 3 - 226 ).."