The Abrams Family Collection

SAUVAN, JEAN BAPTISTE BALTHAZAR

Picturesque Tour of the Seine, from Paris to the Sea: with particulars historical and descriptive... London; Ackermann, 1821. First edition, on Whatman Turkey Mills paper with 1821 watermarks. Full olive green levant morocco by Rivière & Son, stamp-signed on upper turn-in, the lower turn-in stamped "Miniatures by C.B. Currie" on the moire silk, the binding 14 1/4 x 11 3/4 x 1 5/8 inches; bound Cosway-style with 14 landscape miniatures of views along the Seine (9 on upper cover, 5 on lower cover), these comprising 4 large landscape ovals (98 x 145 mm, 3 13/16 x 5 3/4 inches), 8 circular (60 mm, 2 3/8 inches diameter) and 2 rectangular landscape centerpieces (36 x 79 mm, 3/8 x 3 1/8 inches), each framed in double gilt rules, a semé of small and large fleurs-de-lys surrounding the design, the spine in seven compartments with six raised bands (lettered in the second and fourth, a gilt panel semé with fleurs-de-lys in the rest), board edges with double gilt fillet, turn-ins with triple gilt fillets and fleurs-de-lys corner ornaments, orange silk doublures and free endpages, the top edge gilt, the others comprising stamp-signed by the binders on upper turn-in, contemporary crimson morocco gilt pull-off case. 14 x 11 1/4 inches (35.5 x 28.5 cm); viii, 177, [1] pp.; the letterpress title with a colored aquatint vignette, colored aquatint tail-piece vignette, handcolored engraved map by Bartlett and 24 handcolored aquatint plates by D. Havell and T. Sutherland after J. Glendall and A. Pugin. The binding has minimal wear, the protective case is somewhat rubbed and worn. Within, some offsetting, mostly to text, some very occasional foxing, in all a lovely copy of the book, magnificently presented. The Paul Chevalier copy, with his bookplate.

One of two examples of the Ackermann series of river books known to us to be presented in Cosway-style bindings, of which this is far and away the most spectacular example. The views of the Seine inset into the cover are highly accomplished and very beautiful indeed. They have been previously described as follows: Front cover In center, a rectangular view of Rouen, flanked at top by Triel and below by Andelys, each of the latter an oval. These three centerpieces are flanked by three circular medallions. These views, starting from the top and reading down, are. To the left,--Jumieges, Havre, Quillebeuf. To the right,--Caudebec, Church of St. Denis, and Poissy. Back cover: In center, view of Robise, rectangle; flanked at right by Notre Dame, and at left by the Mouth of the Seine, each of the latter a circular medallion. At top, La Roche-Guyon, and below, Mantes, both oval. Abbey Travel 90; Tooley 445.

Provenance:

Offered American Art Association, May 16, 1922, lot 615; The Library of Miss Marion Davies, offered Parke-Bernet, December 3, 1945, lot 324 (illustrated); The Paul Chevalier copy, with his bookplate, sold Christie's November 9, 1990, lot 67; acquired by The Abrams Family Collection, where it has remained until the present time. NYSDEC License 187-2.