Lot 205: DEBRET, JEAN BAPTISTE.

VOYAGE PITTORESQUE ET HISTORIQUE AU BRÉSIL, OU SÉJOUR D'UN ARTISTE FRANÇAIS AU BRÉSIL, DEPUIS 1816 JUSQU'EN 1831 INCLUSIVEMENT. PARIS : FIRMIN DIDOT FRÈRES, 1834-1835-1839

first edition, 3 volumes, folio (495 x 332mm.), half-titles, lithographed portrait of Debret by Thierry frères, 153 views and plates on 140 sheets by Thierry frères after Debret (including the bis plates 6 and 12 in vol.2), map of Brazil, 2 plans (of Rio de Janeiro and the bay of Rio de Janeiro) and lithographed facsimile letter of Pedro I, list of plates at end of each volume (the 12 plates of natural history in vol.1 not listed), contemporary green half morocco over marbled boards, spines in six compartments with raised bands gilt, occasional light spotting to text and plates, old manuscript ink collation slightly offset onto portrait, preliminary blank leaf in each volume slightly creased, some slight surface wear to marbled boards, corners and spine ends somewhat rubbed

PROVENANCE

Count Stroganoff of Russia, engraved armorial bookplate; Siberia University Library, small blue oval inkstamp to titles; Juan Gyselynck, engraved pictorial bookplate; Walter Geyerhahn, Livraria Kosmos, Rio de Janeiro; from whom acquired (1985) by the present owner

LITERATURE

Borba de Moraes (1983), p.252; Sabin 19122

NOTE

rare. a handsome copy. Debret (1768-1848), painter and pupil of David, spent some sixteen years in Brazil, witnessing that country's transition from Portuguese colony to independent empire (proclaimed at Sao Paulo on 7 September 1822), up until the time of Pedro I in 1831. During his stay in Brazil, Debret established an institute of fine arts at Rio de Janeiro in 1815 and received the title of painter to the Imperial family, which position he held until his departure from Brazil to Paris in 1831. The fine plates include numerous views, scenes of everyday life and 12 plates of natural history subjects.