[WOMAN AUTHOR / ILLUSTRATOR OF PAGAN EMBLEMS IN THE SERVICE OF PEDAGOGY]. Arabesques Mythologiques, ou les attributs de toutes les divinites de la fable [together 2 vols.]

Paris: C. Barrois, 1811. First Edition. Very good. Together 2 vols., 8vo printed on LARGE PAPER. Ad 1: [4], xxx, 266 (recte: 166) pp., inexplicably lacking one leaf (pp. 111/112) which has been supplied from a small paper copy. Bound by Rosa in contemporary red diced morocco: single floral roll gilt round sides, smooth spine paneled into six compartments, red morocco lettering piece in the second, signed REL[IE] P[AR] ROSA, old shelf label at the foot (likewise on vol. 2), blue and black marbled pastedowns and endpapers, all edges gilt. Ad 2: [4], iv, 228 pp., 1 f. Avis au Relieur (short tear in blank margin of p. iii). Bound in contemporary pink glazed boards (spine and portions of upper cover sun-bleached, a few corners bumped), green spine labels, edges uncut, with many gatherings unopened. Complete with all 54 + 24 = 78 plates, all color-printed stipple engravings (in one instance heightened in gold) engraved by Gaitte after designs by Mme de Genlis. From the library of Archduchess Sophie of Austria with her crowned monogram stamped on the verso of both title-pages, and identical shelf-marks: "IX.G.38." EXCEPTIONAL LARGE PAPER COPY OF THIS HIGHLY ORIGINAL WORK, INTENDED FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN YOUNG AND OLD, CONTAINING THE FULL COMPLIMENT OF 78 EXTRAORDINARY COLOR-PRINTED MYTHOLOGICAL ORNAMENTS IN WHICH APPEAR THE NAMES OF PAGAN GODS, EACH INGENIOUSLY CONJOINED WITH ITS MIRROR IMAGE, AND SURROUNDED BY RESPECTIVE EMBLEMS. IT IS A REMARKABLE FACT THAT EVERY ILLUSTRATION WAS DESIGNED BY THE AUTHOR HERSELF.

OUR COPY COMES FROM THE LIBRARY OF ARCHDUCHESS SOPHIE OF AUSTRIA, PRINCESS OF BAVARIA: VOL. 1 WAS SUPERBLY BOUND IN PARIS BY FREDERIC-GUILLAUME ROSA; VOL. 2, PUBLISHED IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WAS BOUND IN CONTEMPORARY GLAZED BOARDS AND IS LARGELY UNOPENED.

The plates are color-printed stipple engravings which in our copy are sometimes heightened in gold. In each plate, the name (or names) of the god (or demigod) described in the text appears in calligraphic script. The respective name was incorporated into the design of the ornament thusly:

First the name appears in cursive; then a reversed mirror-image of the same is cleverly attached to it, with the result that the visual representation of the name becomes ALMOST hidden within the ornament itself. Surrounding the whole are the various attributes of the god or gods: for instance, the ornament, or "arabesque" for Ceres (pl. 9) is formed by a group of freshly-cut wheat, a scythe, a sickle, a group of autumn flowers, and of course the mirrored name of the deity. Some plates are signed: "Gravé par Gaitte" -- possibly Antoine Joseph Gaitte (b. 1753). Most copies are uncolored and/or lack the second volume entirely.

Madame de Genlis (1746-1830), one of the most popular and prolific authors of her day, possessed an almost maniacal enthusiasm for teaching children. The text of her "Arabesques" contains a history of pagan gods and their worship, details of religious ceremonies, sections on general mythology, paganism, and the character, manners, and literature of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

BINDER: Frederic-Guillaume Rosa (1760-1833) was a brilliant Empire-era binder active in Paris, for whom see Ramsden (p. 178). Flety (p. 154) notes that Rosa is one of the few binders NAMED by Lesne in his immortal poem "La Reliure." Our binding shares the identical floral roll with Jerome Bonaparte's copy of Mejan's "Recueil des causes celebres" (4 vols., 1808) sold at Christie's Paris 22 May 2025 lot 75. We note with interest that Rosa bound another copy of of Madame Genlis' "Arabesques mythologiques" vol. 1, sold at Audap et Mirabaud on 7 Nov. 2012 lot 43.

PROVENANCE: Princess Sophie (1805-1872) Archduchess of Austria. She was the daughter of Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his second wife, Caroline of Baden. She became Archduchess of Austria through her marriage to Archduke Franz Karl of Austria. Both volumes of the present set bear her crowned Imperial monogram. Books from her library are uncommon on the market.

SEE THE 38 REPRESENTATIVE IMAGES ON OUR WEBSITE.

§ Querard III, 306. Gumuchian 2699.