GENIE DU CHRISTIANISME: Par Mr Le Vicomte de Chateaubriand, Membre de l’Academie Françoise
Paris: Pourrat frères, 1838. Hardcover. Originally issued in parts; this issue bound by the publisher circa 1840. In this celebrated work, first published in 1802, Chateaubriand (1768-1848) defends the wisdom and beauty of Christianity against the attacks of French Enlightenment philosophers and revolutionary politicians. The book had an immense influence on 19th century culture and was a major inspiration for the Romantic movement. Tall octavo: [ii], 511, [1, blank], 68 pp. with the portrait frontispiece and 8 full-page plates, all steel engravings with tissue guards, by Burdet, Gouttiére, A. Lacour, N. Lecomte, Mauduit, A. Revel, Thomas, after J. David, Dreem, A. Johannot, P. Rubens, et al. Also includes a decorated title page, textual vignettes, initials, and chapter and page decorations, all wood engravings by Porret after Theophile Fragonard. In the publisher's deluxe dark green morocco binding, with gilt-stamped ruled borders with floral and arabesque corners, and central arabesque surround, with floral ornaments and small floral urn vignette on the front and rear panels, and gilt-stamped arabesque and floral decorations, and titling on the spine. All edges gilt, with cream coated endpapers. Just an occasional hint of foxing. Some very mild edgewear to the boards; else very good or better. Provenance: Dr. Sali Guggenheim of Zurich, then the Publishers' Bookbindings collection of Ellen K. Morris and Edward S. Levin. Very good. Item #80903
Price: $250.00