VERNET (Carle). Cris de Paris, drawn from life. P., Delpech, - Lot 145

VERNET (Carle). Cris de Paris, drawn from life. P., Delpech, s. d. (circa 1820). In-folio (360 x 283 mm), long-grained green maroq., boards decorated with wide lace accompanied by several sets of fillets, corner fleurons, all gilt, richly decorated spine, garnet moiré silk double and endpapers, the double with a wide maroq. frame decorated with 7 bold and lean fillets, gilt edges on witnesses, case (Mercier, succr de Cuzin). COMPLETE and very rare SUITE of a lithographed title and 100 plates by Carle Vernet lithographed and colored at the time. ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SERIES OF THE ROMANTIC PERIOD, RARE AND COMPLETE. Vernet provides a picturesque catalog of Parisian peddlers, from the pewter spoon founder to the doormat merchant, not forgetting the dog-shearer Jean, who "shears dogs clean and goes to town". The celebrated series, prized by the sociologist as well as the historian of costume, has become almost unfindable complete because of an insatiable demand from Hôtelkeepers seeking wall decorations (Ray). SUPERB EXAMPLE, EXCEPTIONAL IF NOT UNIQUE, sumptuously bound by Mercier. It contains a second suite in black of all the pieces (except pl. 72), all mounted on tabs, and the very rare portrait of Carle Vernet (full-length, drawing in a landscape) by his son Horace, an incunabula lithograph (dated 1818), also colored at the time, has been added to the front of the collection. (Some foxing.) Ray French I, 121; Colas II, 2986; Lipperheide I, 1186. Provenance: - BIBLIOTHEQUE VILLEBOEUF (bound with his cipher).