SAINT MARTIN
Tours: Alfred Mame et fils, 1881. First Edition. Hardcover. Small quarto: xv, [1], 735, [1] pp. with a frontispiece and 5 full-page plates, all chromolithographs with captioned tissue guards, as well as 29 full-page plates, all steel engravings with captioned tissue guards, and 114 chapter heads, tails, and textual illustrations, all wood engravings. In the publisher's dark red morocco spine over dark red diagonal fine-ribbed cloth binding designed by Auguste D. Souze, with black and gilt-stamped ruled borders, ornamental frame with circular ecclesiastical vignettes and mottoes, conjoined "PX" device field, for oval ornamental frame with vignette of mounted Saint Martin with supplicant, and titling banner on the front panel; five raised bands, blind and gilt-stamped ruled head and tail bands, ruled compartments with floral decorations and circular ecclesiastical devices, and ruled compartments with titling on the spine; and black and gilt-stamped ruled borders, ornamental frame with circular ecclesiastical vignettes and mottoes, conjoined "PX" device field, all repeating the front, with an ornamental cross on the rear panel. All edges gilt, with buff endpapers black and gold-printed with a floral ornamental diamond pattern. Armorial bookplate of Francis Baron Houtart on the front pastedown. The boards are lightly edgeworn, with a little bit of rubbing along the joints. Better than very good. Provenance: from the Publishers' Bookbindings collection of Ellen K. Morris and Edward S. Levin. Item #79409
Price: $475.00