Costumes Historiques de la France: (Historical Costumes of France)

Complete set of 8 volumes with 640 handcolored engravings of French costumes from the 5th to 19th century, from the reign of Clovis I to Louis-Philippe.

Illustrated with all 640 handcolored plates by Leopold Massard (1812-1889), grandson of the famous engraver Jean Massard. Plates finely coloured by hand, with many finished in gold. The illustrations copied from authentic images on statues, bas-reliefs, tomb effigies, paintings, murals, miniatures, drawings, and prints.

Vol. 1, 187pp of text, 80 plates, 5th to 12th century; Vol. 2, 172pp, 80 plates 13th century; Vol 3, 217pp, 80 plates 14th century; Vol. 4, 202pp, 80 plates 15th century; Vol. 5, 256pp, 80 plates 16th century; Vol. 6, 202pp, 80 plates 17th century; Vol. 7, 214pp, 80 plates 18th century; and Vol. 8, 221pp, 80 plates, early 19th century.

Subjects include many kings and queens, nobles, famous historical figures, knights, ladies, soldiers, peasants and workers.

Condition: Cloth bindings discolored and starting to fray, sporadic foxing to text pages and tissue guards, but most plates clean and bright with vivid handcolor. Water damage to first 5 plates and 12pp in Vol. 6, bookblock separating from binding in Vols. 2, 7 and 8.

Very rare to find complete sets with all 640 plates.

Paul Lacroix (1806-1884) was a French author and journalist, specializing in French history, culture and bibliography.