HAVELL, Robert

French Costume

London: Rodwell & Martin, 1824. Item #05912

Twenty-Four Fine and Delicate Hand Colored Plates of the Costume of Northern France

HAVELL, Robert Jr., illustrator. French Costume. London: Rodwell & Martin, 1824.

First edition. Small square octavo (5 3/4 x 4 5/8 inches; 146 x 118 mm.). Twenty-four delicate hand-colored engraved plates. Plates watermarked "J. Whatman 1824". Some very occasional light marginal soiling, otherwise fine.

Near contemporary full maroon morocco over boards, covers ruled in gilt, front cover titled in gilt,smooth spine ruled in gilt, yellow coated endpapers, all edges sprinkled red. Publisher's pictorial front lithographed tan wrapper, and rear printed wrapper with publisher's advertisements bound in. Previous owner's ink signature to front wrapper.

These charming plates beautifully illustrate the costume of Normandy, Northern France.

Rare: OCLC/KVK record just one example in libraries and institutions worldwide: State Library of Queensland, Australia.

Robert Havell Jr. (1793-1878) was the principal engraver of Audubon's Birds of America, seen in America as "perhaps the most significant natural history publication of all time"
This is one of his earlier 'costume' works which is not recorded in any of the standard bibliographies.

The Plates:

1. Vareugeville at Dieppe. Maid Servant
2. Environs of Macon. Countrywoman
3. Bolbec
4. Dieppe. Maid Servant
5. Polet at Dieppe. Holiday Dress
6. Caen. Maid Servant
7. Bolbec
8. St. Valery en Caux
9. St. Valery en Caux
10. Rouen. Milliner
11. St. Lo
12. Environs of Coutance
13. Bayeux
14. St. Valery en Caux
15. Harcourt, near Caen. Farmer's Wife
16. Rouen
17. Bayeaux
18. Caen
19. Crosville near Dieppe
20. Vilers Bocage
21. Environs of Dieppe
22. Coutances
23. Crosville near Dieppe
24. Coutances

Bobins III, 937; not in Colas or Hiler, or Lipperheide.

Price: $1,250.00