ILLUSTRATIONS OF ENGLISH AND FOREIGN COSTUME, from the Fifteenth Century to the Present Day. A Series of Ninety-Six Full Length Portraits, Engraved by the Pauquet Brothers, after the Designs of Albert Durer, Titian, [etc.] de Pauquet, [Hippolyte and Polydore] - 1875

London: Henry Sotheran and Co., 1875. Folio (leaves 30.9 cm tall). [4] text leaves, 96 full-page hand-colored plates, rectos only. Rebound in library cloth with ink stamps on first page of index, but no markings on the plates. All leaves mounted on stubs with tissue. The binding is a bit drab and has a call number on the spine, but is quite serviceable. The text leaves have some tears and chipping, with crude tape repairs to the title and half-title. The first plate has a light stain along the left margin (about 1.5 cm wide, the result of a misapplication of mounting adhesive by the binder; depicted in the first image associated with this listing). The plates are otherwise in very good condition. There is some mild browning near the edges; sporadic, tiny spots of foxing not affecting images; and occasional traces of minor soiling, but all of the plates are presentable with the colors still bright. Later edition, although the first by this publisher and the first under this title. Previous English editions were issued as "The Book of Historical Costumes ... " The Pauquet brothers first issued this collection of plates in Paris, circa 1864, under the title, "Modes et Costumes Historiques." It is a beautiful series of sumptuously colored engravings, depicting costumes dating from 1477 to 1868.