LUCAS (Hippolyte), *Le Collier de perles*. Silhouettes and P - Lot 216

LUCAS (Hippolyte), *Le Collier de perles*. Silhouettes and Portraits of Women Paris, Veuve Louis Janet, [circa 1860]. In-8, period Bradel binding in royal blue moiré silk, smooth spine richly decorated with gilded Romantic motifs, gilt edges. An illustrated edition featuring a copperplate frontispiece engraved in stippling and twelve full-page portraits of women, framed by delicate ornamental compositions printed in color. These elegant figures, inspired by the great ladies of history and literature, accompany the texts by Hippolyte Lucas, a Romantic man of letters closely associated with the Hugo circle and the author of numerous historical and biographical works. Published in the tradition of “keepsakes” and collections of female portraits that enjoyed great success during the Second Empire, *Le Collier de perles* stands as a refined testament to late Romantic taste. The volume captivates with the quality of its illustrations, the delicacy of its lithographed borders, and the exquisite nature of its moiré silk binding, preserved in its original condition. A particularly decorative copy, whose gilt edges and engraved portraits reinforce the character of a gift or library volume favored by Parisian publishers of the mid-19th century. Condition: The binding is in fine condition despite some scuffing on the caps and corners. The interior is sound, with a few scattered, minor foxing spots. The plates and portraits remain fresh and well-preserved.