Saint pierre jacques henri bernardin de

1891 · réf. 1451 — Philadelphia: Henry Altemus 1891. First Altemus Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Maurice Leloir. Cream cloth over boards title and decorations stamped in silver gilt and green onto upper board and spine publisher's device stamped in blind onto lower board all edges gilt square 8vo 9-1/8 inches tall pp. 296 decorative green and gilt cloth endpapers illustrated throughout with 119 engravings. The plain DJ is maroon in color with no text or images printed on it. This would make sense as this edition came in a box priced at $3.00 according to contemporary ads dated December 1891. Of further interest with the DJ is that the paper backing for the linen appears to be the same calendered paper used in the text block a little more toned perhaps due to it's greater exposure also there is age appropriate lack of fading to the cloth of the board turn-ins where the DJ flaps have covered and protected the cloth for so long. Volume has light soil and toning fraying to spine ends shelf wear and a tiny crack in cloth at bottom edge of lower board with p.o.gift inscription dated Christmas 1891 and name in pencil to 3rd. fep. DJ with minimal chipping soil and closed tears some spots of cloth lifting from paper backing with fade to spine and a few tape repairs verso. A scarce find in the original paper-backed linen dust jacket. The story of two young lovers living on the island of Mauritius who are corrupted by the false artificial sentimentality that prevailed at the time among the upper classes of France. Written on the eve of the French Revolution the novel is hailed as Bernardin's finest work and was originally published in French in 1788. This is the first Altemus edition. Ref. henryaltemuscom; Quale p. 65; Wikipedia. Henry Altemus hardcover