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1802 GIL BLAS — THREE VOLUMESBAYNTUN FULL MOROCCO BINDINGSEXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH 64 ENGRAVED PLATESNUMEROUS PLATES HAND-COLORED
LESAGE, Alain-René. The Adventures of Gil Blas, of Santillane. Translated from the French of Le Sage.
London: Printed for Vernor and Hood; Cuthell and Martin; J. Walker; Lackington, Allen and Co.; Longman and Rees; J. Nunn; and J. Harris, 1802.
Three volumes, octavo.
A particularly handsome and extensively extra-illustrated copy of Lesage\'s celebrated picaresque novel, finely rebound in full crushed green morocco by Bayntun of Bath and expanded with 64 engraved plates, many attractively hand-colored.
The result is a highly individualized collector\'s set combining an early nineteenth-century edition, fine Bayntun bindings, and extensive extra-illustration.
THE BAYNTUN BINDINGS
Each volume is bound in full crushed green morocco and signed:
BAYNTUN
in gilt on the turn-ins.
Features include:
- five raised spine bands
- richly gilt spine compartments
- gilt-lettered leather labels
- large gilt corner ornaments
- multiple gilt rules to the covers
- gilt-decorated turn-ins
- marbled endpapers
- all edges gilt
The boards retain much of their original deep green coloration, while the spines have mellowed attractively toward brown and mahogany.
The bindings remain visually impressive and display exceptionally well as a three-volume set.
EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH 64 PLATES
The set contains 64 engraved plates, far more than were supplied with the ordinary 1802 edition.
The additional illustrations include:
- hand-colored narrative scenes
- uncolored engravings
- character from Gil Blas\'s adventures
Many have been carefully mounted or inlaid onto larger leaves to harmonize with the format of the volumes.
The plates clearly derive from multiple illustrated sources and were assembled to create a unique, greatly expanded copy.
HAND-COLORED ENGRAVINGS
A particularly attractive feature is the extensive hand-coloring.
Numerous plates show figures in brightly colored period dress, interiors, landscapes, trees, architecture, and dramatic scenes from the novel.
The coloring gives the set considerably more visual interest than an ordinary illustrated copy and makes it especially appealing as a display object.
EXTRA-ILLUSTRATION
The nineteenth- and early twentieth-century practice of enriching books with additional portraits, views and narrative engravings is traditionally known as extra-illustration or Grangerizing.
Collectors often transformed standard editions into unique library objects by inserting:
- engraved prints
- related documentary material
The present Gil Blas is a substantial example of this tradition, with 64 total engraved plates incorporated into the three volumes.
THE 1802 EDITION
This London edition was issued in three volumes and presents the well-known English translation traditionally associated with Tobias Smollett.
The original edition already included engraved illustrations, making it an especially suitable basis for later extra-illustration.
BRENTANO\'S NEW YORK ASSOCIATION
One volume retains a Brentano\'s, New York bookseller label.
George Bayntun developed a significant American clientele, and the Brentano\'s label provides an interesting bookselling association for the set.
No claim is made that Brentano\'s commissioned the binding; the label is described simply as evidence of its later retail or bookseller history.
CONDITION
Very Good overall.
The three Bayntun bindings remain square, sound and attractive.
There is light to moderate rubbing at the joints, raised bands, corners and board edges, together with scattered handling marks.
The spines have mellowed from green toward brown and mahogany, with some expected color variation between spine and boards.
The gilt decoration remains bright and well defined.
Internally generally clean, with scattered foxing, toning and occasional handling marks.
The inserted plates naturally vary in paper stock, tone and condition. Some show foxing, offsetting, toning or light edge wear.
Numerous hand-colored plates remain bright and attractive.
Volume III has a few small marginal tears near the beginning, without significant loss to the printed text.
Two small neat labels are present on the front pastedown of Volume II.
Please examine all photographs carefully for the bindings, plates, coloring and condition.
DETAILS
Author: Alain-René Lesage
Title: The Adventures of Gil Blas, of Santillane
Translator: traditionally Tobias Smollett
Place: London
Date: 1802
Volumes: Three
Format: Octavo
Binding: Full crushed morocco
Binder: Bayntun of Bath
Illustrations: 64 engraved plates
Color: Numerous plates hand-colored
Endpapers: Marbled
Edges: All edges gilt
Association: Brentano\'s, New York bookseller label
A richly extra-illustrated three-volume Gil Blas in signed Bayntun morocco bindings, with 64 engraved plates, many hand-colored.
