The CHEFS DOEUVRE DART of the International Exhibition 1878

Philadelphia: Gebbie & Barry, 1878. First edition. Elephant Folio in dark pebbled cloth boards w dark leather spine with raised bands and leather corners, embossed gilt print, gilt edges. Good Plus overall. Boards have edgewear along the spine and worn corners, most of the steel plates have light foxing at the edges, and the last 18 pp (only, of 138 total) have dampstains at the lower edges. However, the binding is tight and totally intact, all the engravings are bright and undamaged, and the marbled color endpapers are bright and clean. Ink calligraphy dedication in large handwriting on front endpaper reads: A Present to my Beloved Sister as a token of my ardent affection New York USA April 2nd 1881 Henry M Hyman. . A showcase of the 1878 Paris exhibition that featured academic painting and sculpture of the period, this book has 48 steel-cut full-page tissue-guarded engravings printed on heavyweight India paper, plus 28 full-page tissue-guarded wood engravings, plus 85 in-text illustrations in the form of illuminations, initials, and portraits. Artists included are: L. Alma-Tadema, A. Appian, EL Barrias, EA Bayard, EP Berne-Bellecour, J. Bertrand, C. Bodmer, L. Bonnat, WA Bougereau, GR Boulanger, J. Breton, FA Bridgman, E. Burne-Jones, E. Butti, A. Cabanel, A. Cano, HMA Chapu, E. Chatrousse, J. Coomans, Q. Corbellini, F. Cormon, E. Dame, P. DeConinck, FA Delobbe, A. DeNeuville, F. DeNittis, E. Detaille, A. DeVriendt, J, DeVriendt, Gustave Dore, P. Dubois, S. Durand, F. Ehrmann, E. Fromentin, R. Fontana, M. Fortuny, FL Francais, F.Gerome, F. Girard, PPL Glaize, JR Goubie, C. Green, Baron Gros, C. Guillaume, H. Hardy, H. Herkomer, EE Hiolle, G. Induno, JG Jacquet, P. Joris, L. Knaus, M. Lalanne, JP Laurens, Lecomte-du-Nouy, F. Lefebvre, J. Lematte, EF Leroux, H. Leroux, HL Levy, B. Limousin, EV Luminais, J. Macbeth, R. Madrazo, A. Maignan, H. Makart, AJ Mazerolle, C. Meissonier, JLE Meissonier, A. A. Mercie, JE Milais, G. Moreau, M. Munkacsy, WQ Orchardson, E. Pagliano, A. Pasini, LG Pelouse, I. Pils, Priou, H. Regnault, M. Rico, JA Rixens, JN Robert-Fleury, P. Robinet, JE Saintin, HH Siemiradski, Wm Small, A. Steinheil, A. Stevens, JN Sylvestre, A. Toulmouche, C. Verlat, C. Vernet, A. Vertunni, E. Verveer, JG Vibert, BG Wappers, E. Wauters, F. Willems, J. Worms, and M. Zetterstrom. Includes description of the buildings of the Exposition and extensive text by the artists describing their art. A somewhat worn but sturdy copy, with very clean contents, of a classical art masterpiece.

12 x 17, 138 pp, 11 lb, b/w engravings, color-marbled endpapers. Additional shipping cost.