Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

Le Sage, Alain-René. Histoire de Gil Blas de Sanitillane. Vignettes par Jean Gigoux. 1 vol. in 2.

With wood-engr. frontispiece, engr. portrait of Gil Blas on China, c. 500 vignettes in the text by J. Gigoux, and with an extra suite of 32 engr. illus. on plates by Gavarni (20) and Los Rios (12) . 486 pp.; pp. (487–) 972. 4to. Contemp. full grained olive morocco with triple fillets around boards, spine and boards gilt. Orig. printed wrappers bound-in. Uncut. – Paris, Paulin, 1835 (recte 1836).

Second printing of the beautiful Gil Blas edition illustrated by Gigoud (1806–1894), with all typographic characterstics described by Vicaire. Here one of 100 copies on „vélin superfin“ and with an extra suite of etchings by Gavarni and Los Rios. Orig. wrappers, printed in black, red and blue and dated 1836 bound-in. As well together with the 4 pp. leaflet, announcing the „Gil Blas“ as the first publication in the series of the „Editions Pittoresques des Classiques Français et Etrangers“ and planned as 50 to 55 weekly issues. Provenance: From the library of M. Lottin de Laval with his stamped exlibris on both wrappers and on the title. – Vicaire I, 239; Brivois 256ff.; Sander 440. – Spines somewhat faded. But slight foxing throughout. An extraordinary copy. – Best.-Nr. 22251