PAPILLON, J.M.  TRAITE HISTORIQUE ET PRATIQUE DE LA GRAVURE EN BOIS....  Three volumes bound in two

PAPILLON, J.M.  TRAITE HISTORIQUE ET PRATIQUE DE LA GRAVURE EN BOIS....  Three volumes bound in two.                                              

Paris: Pierre Guillaume Simon, 1766. 8vo. Contemporary cat's paw calf. xxxii, 540 pages, 1 chiaroscuro plate; xvi, 388 pages, 5 chiaroscuro progressive plates; iv, 124 pages. First edition.

Papillon's work is considered to be the first practical treatise on wood engraving, chiaroscuro printing, and wallpaper.  It is most famous for its progressive suite of five plates showing the making of a chiaroscuro print.  Papillon was wood engraver to the Imprimerie Royale, and considered to be the finest engraver of his day.  Aside from the plates, these volumes contain one hundred thirty-six head and tail pieces and two hundred and fifty-seven other wood marks in the text.  This is a very nice set of a scarce and important work.

$6,850.00