VENDU
6 volumes, 18mo (131 x 81 mm) XXVIII, 194 pp., 9 engraved and hand colored plates for volume I; 2 nn.ll., 236 pp., 1 nn.l. (table), 28 engraved and colored plates (including 8 folding) for volume II; 2 nn.ll., 201 pp., 1 nn.l. (table), 14 engraved and hand colored plates (including 4 folding) for volume III; 2 nn.ll., 191 pp., 21 engraved and hand colored plates (1 folding) for volume IV; 2 nn.ll., 179 pp., 16 engraved and hand colored plates for volume V; 2 nn.ll., 211 pp., 1 unn.l. (table), 16 engraved and hand colored plates (2 folding) for volume VI. Contemporary green long grained morocco, gilt filet on covers, flat spine gilt, gilt edges.
1 in stock
Colas, 266; Lipperheide, Ld 15; Barbier, II, 627.
First edition. A large paper copy, with the 104 plates handcolored at the time. “Ces planches existent en noir ou coloriées” (Colas).
The book is the work of the marquis Carlom Louis Francois Félix Renouard de Sainte Croix (1767-1840), who left the manuscript to Léger, colonial prefect in Pondicherry. It was discovered in his estate and published by Jean Amable Pannelier without the consent of F.R. de Sainte Croix.
Complete with its 104 plates (15 folding) engraved after the original drawings executed for Mr. Léger, showing religious customs and ceremonies, trades, tiger hunting, pearl merchants, a chess board, etc.
Prestigious female provenance : From the library of Augusta-Amelia of Bavaria (rubber stamp with her crowned initials on the fly-leaf of volume I). Through her marriage to Eugène de Beauharnais (1781-1824), only son of Josephine de Beauharnais and stepson to Napoléon, she was aunt of Napoleon III. She was also aunt by direct bloodline to empress of Elisabeth of Austria, better known under her nickname ‘Sissi’.
A fine copy, complete with all its plates called for.
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