Racinet, MA M AABAA
1888rif. 216913Paris: Librairie de Firmin-Didot et Cie. Imprimeur de L'Institut 56 Rue Jacob 56 1888. 500 Planches 300 en Couleurs Chromolithographs Or et Argent 200 en Camaieu. 6 vols. 4to. Bound in quarter black pebbled contemporary morocco and pebbled cloth over boards. Fine. 500 Planches 300 en Couleurs Chromolithographs Or et Argent 200 en Camaieu. 6 vols. 4to. Colas 2471; Lipperheide 93; Hiler 732 Librairie de Firmin-Didot et Cie., Imprimeur de L'Institut, 56, Rue Jacob, 56 unknown books
rif. B243132-1Paris Firmin-Didot et Cie. 1888. 6 vols. 500 chromolithographic and tinted plates hors texte each with multiple figs. Lrg. folio. Later cloth 3/4 leather gilt. Raised bands. A.e.g. Housed in a custom built glass-fronted freestanding oak bookcase. Vol. I consists mostly of explanatory text with an introduction; Vols. II-VI each with 100 color plates bound interspersed with pages of descriptive text originally published in 20 fascicles 1877-1886. One of the most elaborate costume books ever produced this edition is much less common than the smaller format which was published in the same year. A handsome set. Paris (Firmin-Didot et Cie.), 1888. hardcover books
1888rif. 001135Paris: Firmin-Didot et Cie 1888. 1st Edition. Half Morocco. Fine. Elephant Folio - over 15. This is the much less common folio version of this work with each of 6 volumes measuring 16.5 by 12.5 inches or 42 by 32 cm. With 500 plates 300 using color chromolithography. This copy is about as as good as it gets. Modern half morocco over green boards is pristine. Five thick raised bands on each spine with gilt lettered labels. Traditional Victorian endpapers. All bindings are tight. Interiors are about as clean as can be notwithstanding the most occasional and lightest of speck. This is one of the most elaborate and detailed costume books ever produced if not the single most ambitious such work. It is still an invaluable reference but it functions fabulously well simply as visual entertainment and the plates contained herein have found their ways to many a print shop where they have been framed and later hung on walls as decoration. As not uncommon among costume books Racinet also serves up a healthy helping of accessories and interiors throughout the ages. Like Racinet's other masterpiece "L'Ornement Polychrome" the chromolithography of this work is exceptionally brilliant. Firmin-Didot et Cie unknown books
