Pierre-Joseph REDOUTÉ (1759–1840), and Claude-Antoine THORY (1759–1827).
Les Roses, peintes par P.J. Redouté, decrites et classes selon ordre naturel, par C.A. Thory. Troisieme Edition, publiée sous la direction de M. Pirolle. Paris: chez P. Dufart, Libraire … [and in] St.-Petersbourg, chez J.F. Hauer et Cie., 1835.
3 volumes, octavo (9 1/4 x 6 inches; 235 x 152mm). 186 plates (i.e. a hand-colored frontispiece by Redouté, engraved by Manceau, depicting a wreath of flowers; two uncolored lithographed portraits of Thory and Redouté by C. Motte after Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse; three hand-colored engraved plates of explanatory botanical plates; and 180 stipple-engraved plates of Roses after Redouté, printed in colors and finished by hand. (Occasional light spotting, particularly towards the front and rear, occasional oxidization of the white pigment to a few plates). Contemporary English light brown morocco by J. Wright, covers with a wide gilt decorative border built up from rules and a stylized flower and foliage roll, the spines in six compartments with raised bands, titled and numbered in gilt on onlaid labels in the second and third compartments, the others with an overall repeat decorative design in gilt, centering on a rose spray tool, gilt turn-ins, cream glazed endpapers, gilt edges. (‘perfect-bound’ using adhesive that has now perished, so, most leaves are now detached but otherwise remain in excellent condition, the bindings are slightly rubbed and have occasional small areas of discoloration, the vol. number label to the spine of volume III is damaged and will need replacing). Provenance: Gordon Dexter (armorial bookplate in each volume).
An almost excellent set: the condition of the plates is generally excellent but the binder’s choice of ‘perfect binding’ means that some work needs to be done. J. Wright was a contemporary binder of some prominence in London, but he took the unfortunate decision to 'perfect-bind' the present work, this has inevitably resulted in the majority of the leaves (plates and text) becoming detached, and all of the glue has perished. Luckily, the text blocks have suffered almost no damage and it should be a relatively simple job to re-insert text and plates into the very attractive bindings.
In any event, this 'third' edition is the last and most comprehensive edition of one of the greatest of all flower books. It includes one plate showing a floral wreath, more plates then earlier editions, the two uncolored portraits (of Redoute and Thory), and a biographical note on Thory, none of which had appeared in either of the previous octavo editions, nor the first folio edition.
- Binding Condition: Acceptable
- Overall Condition: Acceptable
- Size: 9 1/4 x 6 ins; 235 x 152mm
