Amsterdam, Frans Buffa en Zonen, [1850]-1857.
-[followed by] : Nederlandsche zeden en gebruiken…
Amsterdam, Frans Buffa en Zonen, [1857-1859].
2 parts in 1 folio volume [540 x 385 mm] of : I/ (2) ll., (14) ll., 56 full-page numbered plates in color; II/ (6) ll. and 18 full-page numbered plates in color. Small tear restored in the margin of 2 plates without loss, last l. of text shorter and restored without loss.
Romantic binding in brown half-morocco, gilt decorative frame stamped on the covers composed of fillets and a floral pattern, spine ribbed and decorated with a blind-stamped pattern. A few stains and rubbings, restoration on the foot of the spine. Contemporary binding.
Rare reunion of the two most beautiful works dedicated to costumes and habits of the inhabitants of the Netherlands in the 19th century, both of them in first issue.
Landwehr, Dutch Books, 242 and 243; Colas, Bibliographie du costume et de la mode, I, 333; Vinet, Bibliographie méthodique et raisonnée des Beaux-Arts, 2221; Lipperheide, Katalog der Freiherrlich von Lipperheide, 969m; Graesse, Trésor de livres rares, p. 210.
The 56 plates of the first suite show the costumes worn in the different provinces of the Netherlands, with a great care given to details and the background of the characters, while the 18 plates of the second suite depict the habits and costumes of the Dutch.
We discover here the inhabitants wearing their traditional costumes taking part in marking events of the year or spending time in their everyday activities, with a representation of a wedding, a church fête, a market, a school, a crossing on a boat…
“Males and female costumes with the detail of hairdressing, popular scenes, etc. Published in 14 parts.” (Colas).
The lithographs are preceded by an explanatory leaf in Dutch and French where the scenes represented are described and where the activities of the characters are explained.
The 75 superb lithographs have been executed after the drawings of Valentin Bing and Jan Braet Von Ueberfeldt, printed by Desguerrois and lithographed by R. de Vries Jr.
Precious copy from the deluxe issue, printed on large paper and presenting the costumes and the backgrounds of the 74 lithographs entirely colored.
In the ordinary issue of the first suite, only costumes are colored while backgrounds are not; the ordinary issue of the second suite doesn’t have colors.
“Published in six issues each at fl. 4 (plain), fl. 5 (plain, large paper), fl. 10 (coloured, large paper).” (Landwehr, 243, concerning the second suite).
“It is the most variegated costume book of the Low Countries. Published in fourteen instalments, two states of the plates are known to exist namely: usual: costumes coloured but not the background, fl. 70; fine kleuring: costumes and background coloured, fl. 140” (Landwehr, Dutch Books, 242).
“Fine publication, unmentioned in Lorenz French bibliography, and poorly known in our country.” (Vinet, 2221).
The suites present a very specific interest for the history of costumes and habits of the Netherlands in the 19th century.
They stand out not only by the harmonious and charming composition of their scenes but also by their brilliant coloring with shimmering shades.
Precious copy preserved in its contemporary binding.
