BRES, Jean Pierre

Simples Histoires Trouvees Dans Un Pot Au Lait

Paris: Chez Lefuel, 1825. Item #03972

Complete and Exceptionally Fine in its Original Box
Eight Superb Hand Colored Stipple Engravings of Young 'Entrepreneurs'

BRES, Jean Pierre. Simples Histoires, Trouvées Dans Un Pot Au Lait. Par M. Bres. Paris: Chez Lefuel, 1825.
Eight small octavo volumes in original hand-colored lithograph box. Each volume with a color-printed stipple engraving, finished in color by hand.

First Edition. Eight small octavo volumes (6 x 4 inches; 152 x 101 mm.). [1-7], 8-34, [2, blank]; [1-7], 8-35, [1, blank];
[1-7], 8-35, [1, blank]; [1-7], 8-37, [3, blank]; [1-7], 8-34, [2, blank]; [2, blank], [iv], vi, [7-9], 10-39, [3, blank];
[1-7], 8-34, [2, blank]; [1-7], 8-32, pp.

Each volume has a color-printed stipple engraving, finished in color by hand, of a child dressed in the manner to suit each cover title. The title-pages of all volumes are titled Simples Histoires, Trouvées Dans Un Pot Au Lait. (Simple Stories Found in a Pot of Milk).

Original color lithographed pale blue stiff wrappers, finished by hand in colors. Housed in the original double-compartment box with the title and a colored lithograph on the lid. The lid of the box is bordered in decoratively embossed gold foil which continues down the edges of the lid. Lower portion of box with gold border, original pink and blue ribbon pulls.

An exceptionally fine and complete set in the original lithographed box. Some light sporadic foxing, small ex library number stamped in blue on verso of each title-page and in the margin of one other leaf.

This is a spectacular and wonderful set of this early French children's title. In the Gumuchian catalog it is featured as the color frontispiece and its value is listed at 3000 FF.

Exceptionally rare complete and in the original box.

The titles:

Le Petit Batelier (The Little Boatman)
Le Petit Savoyard (The Little Boy of Savoy)
Le Petit Ecolier (The Little Schoolgirl)
Le Petit Berger (The Little Shepherd)
La Petite Vandangeuse (The Little Grape Picker)
La Petite Laitiere (The Little Milk Maid)
La Petite Marchande De Fleurs (The Little Flower Seller)
Les Petits Fagots (The Little Firewood Gatherer)

Gumichian. Les Livres de L'Enfance du XV au XIX Siècle. #916 and color frontispiece (showing four of the eight color plates).

Price: $4,850.00