Collection des costumes Espagnols anciens et modernes.

With 72 hand-coloured plates. First French edition of Cruz Cano Y Olemedilla's popular Spanish work, with 72 hand-coloured plates.

The collection of costume plates was intended to record the different outfits worn by the Spanish people, both common and noble, stretching across all the different regions of the country and accounting for all of its colonies. Cruz Cano Y Olemedilla (1734-1790), a Spanish engraver and cartographer, was sent by the state to study architectural engravings in Paris in 1752. During this time he also learnt the art of map engraving under the great French geographer Jean Bapriste Bourguignon d'Anville (1697-1782). His background and training in France can be appreciated in this suite of costume engravings; the topographical and architectural details included in the plates provide further insight into the customs and the geographical features of the various depicted towns and cities.

First published in Madrid between 1777-1788, the work was initially issued in 7 parts, each consisting of 12 plates (apart for the final part which, according to the Bibliotheca National in Madrid, was released only with 10 plates). Although the work was never actually completed, the prints proved incredibly popular and were reprinted in both France and Germany. This present French edition was published a year after Olemedilla's death.

First French edition; folio (38.2 x 26.2 cm); 72 aquatint plates engraved by Devere after Cruz Cano Y Olemedilla and finished in contemporary hand-colour, 8 cm repaired closed tear to title near imprint affecting one letter, the first 2 letters of the imprint missing (probably through a production flaw and consequently repaired), faint tears around the letterpress of 'Paris' due to printing technique, some light scattered variable spotting, more heavily affecting plates 12, 36, & 55, plate 56 mis-bound between plates 60 and 61; 19th-century tan half calf ruled in gilt, over marbled paper boards, top edge gilt, the others red, extremities faintly rubbed, joint splitting at head of spine.

Bobins IV, 1215; Colas 843; Lipperheide Jc 4.