["Mis"-Prints Connected with the French Revolution 1789] La Révolution française depuis l'ouverture des Etats-Généraux jusqu'au 9 brumaire. [and 11 other contemporary engravings relating to the French Revolution].

HELMAN, Isidore Stanislas (1743-1809), and MONNET, Charles (1732-1808), et al.

Paris: Chez Decrouan, Imp. de Baudouin, et al., various dates, especially 1838. [Revolutionary Engravings] RARE CONTEMPORARY ENGRAVINGS, including part of the second edition of Helman's famous print collection. Large portfolio codex (39 x 65cm), featuring 10 engravings of the French Revolution by Helman, after drawings by Monnet, and 11 other assorted engravings from the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century, all backed onto larger sheets of paper to match the size of the Helman engravings. The Helman collection lacks plates 1, 2, 9, 12 and 14, but includes the table of contents at rear. All bound together in mid-nineteenth-century brown half calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to black label, and further gilt decoration to spine. Stippled brown cloth over boards. Fly-leaf heavily creased and chipped, with quite heavy spotting to endpapers generally. Only minimal spotting to plates, and a large water stain to right hand margin of most Helman plates. Some light wear and some small tears to edges. Tail-cap pulled away, and some pulling to head-cap. Moderate wear and bumping to binding generally, as might be expected on such a large volume. Very good. Twelve of Helman's famous engravings of the French Revolution appeared in the 1790's, with three further scenes completing the cycle published for the first collected edition in the year X of the Republic, i.e. 1801/02. This second edition was produced by Decrouan in 1838 with all 15 engravings, though sadly this copy lacks five of the plates. A third edition was printed by Chardon in 1864. The assorted engravings include portraits of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as cartoons and scenes of revolution. Item #58962

Price: £675.00