LANGLOIS (Eustache-Hyacinthe, du Pont de l'Arche). Essai sur - Lot 484

LANGLOIS (Eustache-Hyacinthe, du Pont de l'Arche). Essai sur la calligraphie des manuscrits du Moyen-Âge et sur les ornements des premiers livres d'heures imprimés. Rouen, Imprimerie Lefevre, 1841. Large in-8 green half calf, spine ribbed and decorated (period binding). Spine unstained, spinebone fragile. Remnants of original white cover printed in black, red and gold pasted on leaves at beginning and in fine. Interesting notice cut and pasted on the flyleaf: "L'Essai sur la Calligraphie is divided into two parts. The first, which deals only with manuscripts, and the second, which deals only with printed books of hours; and, to explain in a few words a work whose reasoned analysis is impossible, I will say that it contains a host of things completely foreign to the calligraphy of medieval manuscripts and the ornaments of printed books of hours, but which are no less full of interest and novelty for scholars and people of the world. The engravings, as you would expect, contribute greatly to the value of Langlois's work. Sixteen plates representing the most piquant and curious subjects accompany and illustrate the work of the scholar and antiquarian. Some of these plates were executed by the two skilled artists to whom Langlois bequeathed the noble legacy of his name and talent, M. Polyclès Langlois and Mme Bourlet de la Vallée (Espérance Langlois). We cannot pass over in silence the printing of this work, due to M. I.-S. Lefevre, successor to M. Baudry, and we hasten to say that it is, by its elegance and good taste, worthy of the luxury and richness of this publication. In addition to the ordinary copies, Mr. Lefevre has printed some with color and gold titles, to splendid effect. In this respect, we would like to point out, for the honor of our city, and to add to the fine typographic reputation that some of its skilled printers have already earned for it, that Mr. Lefevre has just taken printing a huge step forward: he has found a way of preserving all the color and brilliance of printed gold, and the process he employs is so simple that the workers carry it out without knowing it. Let us hope that the government will want to seize this precious discovery, if only to benefit the royal printing works." A very rare, unique copy printed on tobacco paper, with the masthead and title printed in color and gold, with 17 plates hors texte, 4 of which in two or even three states (including one on chine avant la lettre). Some foxing. Engraved bookplate of Abbé Bouffard. Bookplate G.-R. Piclin. Bookplate J.M.