The Characteristic Costumes of France; From the Drawings Made on the Spot, With Appropriate Descriptions. By an Artist Recently Returned from the Continent. [French title: Costume Caractéristique de France d'apres des Desseins Faits par un Artiste Dernièrement Revenu du Continent; Avec des Descriptions Appropriées]

A more exciting costume book than the typical for the era in which it appeared thanks to the vivid genre scenes that transforms the figures into more than mere mannequins. Indeed, this is a book that aims to depict French culture more broadly, and the "costume" is shown in the context of activity, specific milieu, interaction, and this applies to every single plate. 4to. 31 by 25 cm. viii, [4], 36 pp. 19 hand-colored plates. Counted in the Roman prelim numbering are the two title pages (or leaves, both with blank versos), one in English, the other, in France. Each of the plates has one page description in English and one in French. The plate leaves are somewhat smaller than the text leaves -- we assume this would apply to all the copies issued. The plate leaves are on a slightly thinner, and smoother paper, but one with the same manila color and the difference between the two papers is comparatively subtle. The first plate, the frontis plate which is unnumbered, shows English tourists disembarking onto the beach in Calais, after which, the illustrations capture what these tourists could expect to see, sometimes whatever their agenda -- street life in Paris, being a paramount example -- and other instances, if they were to visit particular places, generally popular sights, such as the catacombs or the Palais Royal. Yet a third group takes us to locations a tourist is very unlikely to venture, such as a morgue. The illustrations, besides their robust vitality, sometimes offer a fillip of humor, as with a mishap of a vehicle en route to Versailles. Rebacked, with crimson morocco that in color matches rather closely the original corner triangular pieces of crimson calf. These four corner pieces are now considerably rubbed and worn, but given their small size, the pairing of morocco spine with these pieces is not inharmonious. Contemporary marbled pastedown boards have rubbed edges and some abrading and other wear, but overall fit the book and are a plus. Old decorative bookplate on FEP has original name crossed out and a later owner's name written in ink. Within, the leaves have scattered light soiling, which includes some foxing. This doesn't disconcert, though, in our view. There are a few short closed tears and other signs of moderate wear. First plate with repaired closed tear which emanated from hinge side. Still, a copy we comfortably grade Very Good.…