BRINDESI, Jean. - Lot 52

BRINDESI, Jean. Souvenirs de Constantinople. Paris, [Imprimerie Lemercier, 1845]. Oblong folio (53 x 39 cm). Title and 15 plates in serpents. Publisher's burgundy chagrin, smooth spine underlined by gilt fillets, top cover richly decorated in the taste of the period with a large gilt iron scroll on the covers, framing the title pushed in gilt to the center on the first, underlined by cold pushed scroll framing, bottom cover adorned with the figure M.S. in gilt at center, edges gilt (soiling and wear to binding, corners dulled, upper jaw split over a few cm, a few freckles to title, 6 plates lacking, but interior still fresh). Binding signed Denoix. Unique edition of this particularly sought-after orientalist work. Superb album of picturesque views of Constantinople, comprising a two-tone lithographed sepia title-frontispiece and 15 lithographed plates in color after drawings by Jean Brindesi ("color by Bayalos" on plate 16). Picturesque snapshots of life in the Ottoman capital, its costumes, surroundings and Bursa. One of only two works ever published by the Italian Orientalist painter Jean Brindesi (1826-1888), who was born in Constantinople, where he was active between 1850 and 1877, and died, author of the famous Elbicei Atika (1855). Lithographed by Bour et Gaildrau, Lemercier, A Charpentier, Gilbert, Bayot, Chultz, Sorie. Without plates [4], 7, 10, [17] and 18 and 21. Colas, 447. Atabey, 152. Blackmer, 207. [Turkey]. [Costumes].