BERNARDIN DE SAINT-PIERRE, JACQUES-HENRI. Paul et Virginie. Frontispiece portrait of Saint-Pierre by Lafitte, 6 plates by Lafitte, Girodet, Moreau, Prudhon, and Isabey, engraved by various artists, with additional states of the plates. 4to, dark slate blue crushed levant morocco, gilt-tooled spine and triple-fillet borders, a few nicks to edges of bands, tips, and spine ends, few other scuffs; all edges trimmed and gilt, and with gilt turn-ins, by CHAMBOLLE-DURU; two small tears from fore edge of half-title. Manuscript note tipped to front blank bearing gift inscription ("Donné par Mlle. Virginie de St. Pierre le 12 juin 1819. Deux jours avant Son Mariage.") Paris: P. Didot l'Ainé, 1806
a beautifully illustrated edition of the classic 18th century romance novel, written just before the French Revolution.
This edition was designed and published for subscribers under the author's direction. In addition to the regular finished set of plates printed in black, this copy contains a proof in earlier lettered state of the portrait, and a complete set of proofs in the finished state printed in colors by Langlois, a set in black before letters, and proofs of yet an earlier state of the plates (rendered in partial outline), except the fourth.
The copies ordered by the 55 subscribers listed at the end of the volume include only six copies with the plates printed in color, one special copy in folio with the plates colored and satiné (hot-pressed) for Prince Joseph Bonaparte, and three sets of both in 4to and folio with the plates colored and satiné and in proofs before letters for the Emperor, Empress, and Empress-Mother of Russia. No copy is listed with the plates in the partial outline state as in the present copy. From the library of Clarence S. Bement, with his bookplate; to Mary S. Collins, with her bookplate, and is being sold by her descendants.
