Item #4305438 L'Album des peuples ou collection de tableaux représentant les cérémonies les plus remarquables de diverses nations du monde. Antoine de SAINT-GERVAIS.
L'Album des peuples ou collection de tableaux représentant les cérémonies les plus remarquables de diverses nations du monde.
L'Album des peuples ou collection de tableaux représentant les cérémonies les plus remarquables de diverses nations du monde.

L'Album des peuples ou collection de tableaux…
L'Album des peuples ou collection de tableaux représentant les cérémonies les plus remarquables de diverses nations du monde.

Paris: J. Langlume et Peltier, 1835.

Octavo, with 20 handcoloured plates (including frontispiece), original patterned green papered boards.

A charming French account of the peoples of the world written for younger readers and featuring twenty vibrant hand-coloured plates including a Tahitian scene and a depiction of a war canoe from New Zealand.

A charming French account of the peoples of the world written for younger readers and featuring twenty vibrant hand-coloured plates including a Tahitian scene and a depiction of a war canoe from New Zealand.

The chapter on Polynesia comprises a rather good description of the manners and customs of Tahiti. The brightly coloured plate, titled Repas d'un chef d'Otaiti, depicts a chief draped in scarlet cloth with three attendants serving and preparing his meal. Some elements of the scene, such as the cocoanut palm and native dwelling at the rear, are reminiscent of the Pacific although the draped apparel of the figures is of oriental influence. The plate depicting the war canoe of New Zealand is based on a study by Sydney Parkinson, and although the cloaks and garments of the figures are fancifully coloured the engraving does reproduce much of the intricate ornamental detail of the carved prow of the vessel.

Additional plates of interest include a native family of Tierra de Fuego inside their rough dwelling, Eskimo's making a fire and a depiction of a slave in the Congo in shackles being led to market.

With the bookplate of Paul Gavault, seemingly the French writer and director.

not in Hocken, New Zealand National Bibliography, O'Reilly Reitman.

Condition Report: A little foxing of the text but a very good copy, rubbed

Price (AUD): $1,250.00

US$814.46   Other currencies

Ref: #4305438

Condition Report