GALLAND (Antoine). The Thousand and One Nights, Arabian Tale - Lot 98

GALLAND (Antoine). The Thousand and One Nights, Arabian Tales. Illustrated edition by the best French and foreign artists. Revue et corrigée sur l'édition princeps de 1704 ; augmentée d'une Dissertation sur les Mille et une nuits, par M. Le Baron Silvestre de Sacy. Paris, Ernest Bourdin et Cie, [1838-1840]. 3 volumes in-4 (26.5 x 17.5 cm), cherry half calf, smooth spines gold-stamped, dark brown titles and giblets (period binding). Vol. I. [2] ff, VIII-482 pp. Vol. II. [2] ff. 576 pp. Vol. III. [2] ff., 482-[1] pp. 3 frontispieces, the first in brown and gold with a medallion portrait of Galland, 3 illustrated titles (the same for each volume) and 17 out-of-text illustrations, several hundred illustrations in the text with vignettes and caps for the titles and at the end of the nights, by Tellier, Levilly, Girardet, Baron, Français, Marville, Bapon, Roussel, Hallamel, Wattier, Laville, ... etc. Typography by Lacrampe. Typography by Lacrampe (Chauvin IV-39.) Large cut at top of first title leaf (with very slight damage to engraving). Scattered foxing, a few marginal stains. Leaf on pp. 26-27 detached and damaged. Originally published in 100 issues, the Bourdin edition is the most sumptuous Galland edition of the Romantic 19th century. This edition is also the second to reproduce Galland's presumed frontispiece portrait in the form of a print engraved by Morel after a painting by court artist Hyacinthe Rigaud. This print was also used to create the bust of Galland for the monument erected to his glory in his native Rollot in 1851. Expert : Madame Elvire POULAIN-MARQUIS