Paul et Virginie
The most celebrated illustrated book of the Romantic era, with illustrations by Tony Johannot, in 15 extraordinary copies. Described as Nos. 49-74 of our Catalogue No. 83, Univers Romantique
Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's novel Paul et Virginie, first published in 1788, became the most celebrated illustrated book of the Romantic era. Less captivating in its sentimental plot of a doomed love story set in a tropical landscape, it is more remarkable for its "successful unification of exotic natural history and the Rousseau-ean sensibility of nature". The novel is mostly set on the Île-de-France, today's Mauritius, where the author himself had spent two years as a technical officer. The illustrations, the masterpiece of Tony Johannot, capture a remote world of tropical flora and fauna that foreshadowed the rise of the exotisme in France.
Our collection includes 15 copies of Paul et Virginie, each more extraordinary than the last, but the one highlighted here is surely the most beautiful copy in existence, and so breathtaking in the wealth of material included, that bookbinder Marius Michel divided it into two volumes:
One of our three copies printed on large China paper (10 to 15 copies were printed in all)
All woodcut plates and steel engraving portraits are included at least twice, occasionally three times, often on different papers, and sometimes in different printing conditions.
More than two thirds of the approximately 450 text woodcuts are also included as mounted fumés (proofs) on China paper.
Instead of the usual seven portraits in other copies, this one comprises ten, including a portrait of Léon Curmer (1801-1870), who was the publisher of this “édition extraordinaire” of Paul et Virginie, and as such one of the pivotal figures in the early development in the genre of the illustrated Romantic book.
Three different versions of the printed map of the Île-de-France (Mauritius), in two different hand colourings, and one without colouring.
Among the included proofs of the text vignettes are six that are signed by the printer J. Bagg in pencil.
Both exquisite mosaic bindings were created around 1880 by Henri Marius Michel (1846–1925). Both volumes are decorated in a different, yet complementary and harmonising style and are among the finest bindings of all time.
Other copies included in the collection:
The personal copy of Robert d'Orleans (Duke of Chartres) in the publisher's binding à l'orientale (No. 50)
Unique copy with author autograph, four original drawings and additional portraits in an innovative binding by Marius Michel, owned by the publisher Arthur Meyer (No. 55)
The personal copy of Louis Ferdinand duc d'Orleans on China paper (No. 57), Robert’s elder brother
A copy on large China paper, with attached autograph letter from Napoleon Bonaparte to the author (No. 59)
60 original printing blocks for Paul et Virginie and La chaumière indienne (Nos. 61-66)
An original drawing by Tony Johannot (No. 67)
An oil painting of Virginie by Tony Johannot (No. 68)
Four unique copies on coloured paper (Nos. 71-74)
For more information, please see Catalogue No. 83 Univers Romantique, available in the online shop