Les Femmes du Temps Passé. by HOUSSAYE, Arsène

Paris: Morizot, 1863. Full red morocco, 10 1/2 inches tall. A spectacular binding by Jean-Baptiste Tinot with gilt raised bands and delicate gilt tooling with green calf onlays to the panels and boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. First edition with 20 steel engraved portraits with somewhat browned tissues. This work celebrates the lives of 20 famous 18th century women, including Madame de Pompadour, Madame du Chastelet and Marie-Antoinette. With a couple of marks to the binding and a little foxing to the plates but overall a fine and impressive binding. In the original French.