DUMERSAN & NOËL SÉGUR — National and Folk Songs of Franc - Lot 85

DUMERSAN & NOËL SÉGUR — National and Folk Songs of France DUMERSAN (Théophile Marion) & SÉGUR (Noël). National and Popular Songs of France, accompanied by historical and literary notes. Paris, Librairie de Garnier Frères, 1866. 2 in-8 volumes, XLVIII-388 pp. and 520 pp., numerous engraved illustrations in the text and 40 separate plates (24 in the first volume and 16 in the second), several with serpentine borders. Later binding in black half-shagreen with corner pieces, covers of blue marbled paper, spine with simulated raised bands, authors’ names, title, and volume numbers gilt. A new, extensively illustrated edition of the famous collection of French songs compiled by Théophile Marion Dumersan and Noël Ségur. The original edition was published by G. de Gonet in 1846; this 1866 Garnier edition is well cataloged by the Bibliothèque nationale de France as two in-8 volumes. A true anthology of French song, the work brings together nearly 1,400 songs, accompanied by historical and literary notes: romances, bacchanalian songs, folk songs, patriotic and chivalric songs, light-hearted songs, children’s roundelays, playful, risqué, and epicurean songs. It includes both major historical and patriotic songs—notably “La Marseillaise”—as well as drinking songs, love songs, folk songs, and compositions associated with French chansonniers. Together, these pieces offer a fascinating overview of French song and its iconography. The book is particularly rich in illustrations, which are one of its main attractions: 40 full-page engravings, in addition to numerous vignettes within the text. The plates depict, among other things, chansonniers, bacchanalian scenes, romances, patriotic songs, and genre scenes; some of the illustrations are by Gavarni, Traviès, and Hadamard. A complete set of both volumes. The bindings are sturdy but show some normal wear on the spines, joints, headbands, and corners. The marbled paper is well-preserved. Waterstains are sometimes quite pronounced, particularly on certain leaves and plates. Several browned creases. The first volume is particularly fragile at the title page/frontispiece section, which is partially unbound, as clearly visible in the photographs. A few leaves also have small marginal tears or signs of wear. Modern “Hermès Xavier” bookplate in the second volume.