HAVARD, Henry.
La Hollande à vol d'oiseau.
Paris, G. Decaux, A. Quantin, 1881. 4to. With a full-page lithographed map of the Netherlands, printed in black and blue, a double suite of 24 full-page heliogravures (one suite in proof-state, the other with the printed text), showing views of the main Dutch cities, and numerous wood-engraved views and illustrations in the text. Contemporary gold-tooled half brown morocco. [6], II, "400" [= 398] pp.
€ 1,250
First edition of a beautiful work on the Netherlands, showing cities such as Amsterdam, Delft, Rotterdam, Groningen, Kampen and others in bird's-eye view. After his successful series La Hollande pittoresque, Henry Havard (1838-1921) wanted to produce a more luxurious edition with plates after French artist Maxime Lalanne (1827-1886), so he returned to the Netherlands to do so. Although inspired by La Hollande pittoresque, Havard states that the new work does not in any way resemble the former: "the new work is less scientific and more picturesque". The present copy is the deluxe edition on Holland paper with an extra suite of plates, of which only 100 copies were printed (the present copy is number 99).
The edges and corners of the boards are slightly scuffed, the spine is discoloured, the boards are slightly rubbed. Bound with the original wrappers, the front hinge is broken, the fore- and bottom edge of the leaves are uncut, some plates without tissue paper guard. Otherwise in good condition. Van der Steur cat. 29, pp. 163-164; not in Nijhoff BHGN (III).
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