SAINT-PIERRE (Bernardin de).

Paul et Virginie. Paris, De l'Imprimerie de P. Didot l'aîné, 1806. In-4, long-grained eggplant morocco, very large frame around the boards formed by a succession of cold roulettes and a gilt border with neoclassical motifs, spine decorated, nerves underlined with fillets and a gilt roulette, the caissons decorated with a gilt four-lobed iron with a thousand points, inner roulette, gilt edges (Simier). Very beautiful edition, illustrated in the first printing with a portrait of the author engraved by Ribault after Lafitte and 6 engraved figures after Lafitte, Girodet, Gérard, Moreau le jeune, Prudhon and Isabey. One of the few copies with the figures printed in color and finished with a brush. This state is rare, the list of 55 subscribers indicating only 10 colored copies. According to Portalis, Les Dessinateurs d'Illustrations au XVIIIe siècle, it was the artist Nicolas-Antoine Taunay (1755-1830), future official painter at the court of Brazil, specialist of landscapes, who took care of the coloring of these prints. Very nice and fresh binding by Simier. Prospectus of the publication (2 pages) bound at the beginning of the volume. A note on a flyleaf indicates that the copy would have belonged to Mademoiselle Mars, one of the most famous actresses of the first half of the 19th century, member of the Comédie Française. The engraved bookplate pasted in the lining is said to be hers. From the library of Édouard Rahir (III, 1935, n°908). Some foxing on the portrait, some spotting.