Descripción
280 x 192 mm. (11 x 7 1/2"). xxii, [2], 335, [1] pp.A new translation by M. le Comte H. de Messey. SUMPTUOUS DARK BLUE STRAIGHT-GRAIN MOROCCO, GILT, BY MERCIER SR. DE CUZIN (stamp-signed in gilt on front turn-in), with a wide frame of multiple curving gilt fillets encircling rose-window-like cornerpieces composed of red morocco onlaid petals with a citron morocco center, each capped with an onlaid citron morocco triquetra, the edges of the frame each with one or two smaller onlaid flowers, raised bands, compartments with gilt lettering or onlaid floral design (like that at corners), turn-ins with multiple gilt rules, dark blue watered silk endleaves, marbled flyleaves, all edges gilt. With the original blue illustrated wrappers bound in. Housed in a (just slightly worn) blue marbled slipcase with morocco-edged lip. With frontispiece portrait and illustrated title page engraved on steel, and numerous engraved vignettes (some measuring half a page or more) and headpieces by Daubigny, Steinheil, Gérard-Séguin, and others. A Large Paper Copy. Verso of front marbled flyleaf with gilt monogram of Eugène Solacroup (the volume was lot 185 in the 1925 sale of his library); first blank flyleaf with bookplate of Robert Beauvillain. Carteret III, 460. â Occasional whisper of offsetting, but AN EXTRAORDINARILY FINE COPY IN A FAULTLESS BINDING. This is a virtually perfect copy of what Carteret considers "one of the most beautiful illustrated books of the 19th century, [and] very rare in fine condition." Originally printed in Italian in 1832, the story is an account of the 10 years Silvio Pellico served in a prison for his political writings against what Britannica called "the hold of the Austrian despotism" in Italy. His original death sentence for revolutionary activities having been commuted to hard labor, he entered the Spielberg prison, which is the primary setting for this work. There, in wretched conditions, he found acts of kindness and humanity that fueled the religious faith he credits for keeping him alive and sane. The illustration on the original paper wrapper here (which Carteret notes is extremely rare) shows the Virgin Mary appearing to a prisoner in chains. Although Pellico (1789-1854) had written a number of poems and plays before his incarceration, Britannica concludes that "it is in the simple narrative and naïve egotism of 'Le Mie prigioni' that he has established his strongest claim to remembrance, winning fame by his misfortunes rather than by his genius." The work becamethe most famous and widely read Italian book in 19th-century Europe, and engendered sympathy for the Italians struggling against Austria's harsh rule. It attracted the attention and patronage of philanthropist and prison reformer Marchesa Juliette Colbert de Barolo, who gave Pellico a pension and took him into her home. His later writings were religious in nature, like the second work here, "The Duties of Men," a treatise on virtues addressed to young men. The lovely, sparkling binding was executed by Émile Mercier (1855-1910), assistant and then celebrated successor to Francisque Cuzin (d. 1890). The work of Cuzin was so well known and so highly esteemed that he was responsible for establishing what was called the "Cuzin style," and that same Cuzin tradition was sustained in its finest form by Mercier, who signed bindings from this period (as here) "Mercier s[uccesseu]r de Cuzin." He won top honors at the Paris Exposition in 1900, at the Hanoi Exhibition of 1903, and the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904. Respected by his fellow artisans as well as by collectors, Mercier succeeded Léon Gruel as president of the Chambre syndicale de la reliure in 1901. He received the Croix de Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1903. The remarkable condition here cannot be overstated. N° de ref. del artículo ST17820
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