Costumes du Directoire: Tires des Merveilleuses

One of only 25 copies published in folio size with hand-coloured etchings on papier de Hollande

According to the publisher's catalog, this edition comprised "200 exemplaires sur papier de Hollande au format in-folio, dont 25 avec les planches coloriées."

The etchings by A. Guillaumot Fils (Auguste Etienne Guillaumot Jr.) were made from theatrical costume designs by Eugene Lacoste and Draner for productions of the comic opera Les Merveilleuses (The Lady Dandies) (1873) by Sardou. The costumes were based on contemporary prints from the Revolutionary era.

Second edition with 30 plates plus portrait, following the first with only 20 plates in 1874.

The Merveilleuses is set in Revolutionary France during the period of the Directoire, 1789-1804, where Royalist Parisian society is led by the Incroyables and Muscadins, ridiculous fops and dandies, and Merveilleuses, outrageous women wearing classical Roman- and Greek-inspired robes in see-through fabrics.

Engraved portrait of Sardou (by Guillaumot Sr.) as frontispiece, title page in black and red, 2pp letter by Victorien Sardou, table of plates, 2pp preface, 12pp description of plates and 30 finely hand-coloured engraved costume plates under tissue guards

Auguste Etienne Guillaumot (1844-1890) was the son of architect and printmaker Auguste Alexandre Guillaumot (1815-1892), and published several books of architectural views and costume plates including Costumes du XVIIIe Siecle after paintings by Watteau, Desrais and others (1873), Costumes du XVIIIe Siecle taken from Sardou's musical play Les Pres-Saint Gervais (1874), Costumes du Directoire (1875), Costumes de la Revolution (1879), Costumes de l'Opera (1883), Costumes des Ballets du Roy (1885) and Costumes Militaires (1886).

Half red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands and gilt title, marble boards, original blue wrapper bound in, all hand-coloured etchings clean and bright with very slight age-toning to edges.

A beautiful copy of this rare book of Revolutionary fashions