Almanach...

A great run of this neat French almanac published under the aegis of French engraver & illustrator Henri Boutet, nicknamed 'little master of corset'. The plates and illustrations are all of ladies a la mode Parisienne (or, at least, française), exquisitely executed either in drypoint etching or a looser line-drawing style with hand-applied wash. The earlier Almanach volumes were available in different limitations at varying cost based on the paper used; most of the volumes here are printed on Japon vellum. Text contributors include Arsene Alexandre and Georges Montorgueil, who have inscribed a volume together, Montorgueil inscribing another and having another inscribed to him, by one H. Sauty, presumably a contributor to the publications too in some way. Boutet has also inscribed the second Petit Almanach to Montorgueil.

Together 11 vols, 16mo; deluxe issues, on various papers, with etched plates, full-page illustrations and/or vignettes, some hand-coloured, some with colour wash, 4 vols with inscriptions from or to the respective authors; uniformly bound in green morocco-backed marbled boards with the original wrappers bound in, spines lettered in gilt with raised bands, very slight sunning to spines, a handsome run.