Beschreibung:

CHARLES MALO (1790-1871) La Corbeille de Fruits. Paris: Richomme for Janet, [1817]. 12 (116 x 78mm). Half-title, calendar for 1818 at back. Engraved title with hand-coloured stipple-engraved vignette, 11 fine hand-coloured stipple-engraved plates after Pancrace Bessa Original apricot watered-silk, covers blocked with elaborate neo-classical borders, remains of pull-tab at head of upper cover, similar motifs on the flat spine, g.e., within original matching apricot watered-silk slip-case (case slightly soiled). Provenance : Charles Hervey (presentation inscription from 'Mrs.Gordon', dated 1822); M.Hervey (presentation inscription from Charles Hervey). A fine copy of this charming work which was evidently re-issued in subsequent years with an appropriately updated calendar. Lucia Tongiorgi Tomasi's comments about a companion volume ( Histoire des Roses ) are equally applicable to the present work: "This book is a typical example of the sentimental flower book, elegant little volumes that were enourmously popular during the Romantic era. The writer Charles Malo excelled in this fashionable genre, producing numerous works [of a similar nature]... It is however the... plates designed by Pancrace Bessa (1772-c.1835), a renowned French painter of botanical subjects, that set apart this modest example of early nineteenth-century French printing as a true work of art. Bessa had studied with Spaendonck and with the famous Redout; he was drawing-master to the duchesse de Berry... [and in 1817] was engaged in engraving some of the plates for Redout's masterpiece, Les Roses": An Oak Spring Flora pp.300-302. Dunthorne 37 (incorrect date); Cf. Nissen BBI 1264 (incorrect title and different date!).