La Corbeille de Fruits
A Paris: Chez Janet, Libraire, Rue S Jacques No. 59, No date listed. Circa mid 19th century. Pancrace Bessa. Written in French, circa mid 19th century. Hardcover. Bound in full leather with gilt decorative border on the covers. Spine bears gilt ornamentation and green leather label stamped with gilt lettering. Gilt decorative border around inner board edges. All edges gilt. Marbled endpapers in blue, off white and red. 12 hand-colored chromolithograph plates illustrated by Pancrace Bessa "reflect the interest in Classical imagery of the time period" (Vanderbilt University Library). Each plate is protected by a tissue leaf, (including the title page), respectively. Thin, green silk ribbon bookmark. [2] viii, 188 pp. "Pancrace Bessa (1772-1835) was a French natural history artist, best known for his botanical illustrations. Bessa was a student of the great engraver Gerard van Spaendonck and worked alongside Pierre-Joseph Redoute, some of whose influence shows in Bessa's detailed and delicate treatment of his subjects." (Wikipedia). Cover shows moderate wear and some wear-through rubbing of the finish. Some discoloration within endpapers and moderately foxed throughout. Plates are toned yet beautiful and all present, as are their tissue leaves. Collated and complete. Unmarked except for a previous owner's name written in dipped ink on the verso of a front flyleaf, and a vintage sticker reading "Duane Central Exportation Paris" under the signature. A lovely little book. VG. Full refund if not satisfied. Very Good.
5" x 3.25" x 0.75"
Item #072335
Price: $200.00