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Lot 137
HELMAN, Isidore Stanislas Henri (1743- c. 1809)
Faits Mémorables des Empereurs de la Chine, tirés des Annales Chinoises. Paris: for the author and M. Ponce, 1788.
Closed13 July 2023
Price Realised
GBP 5,040
More Information
HELMAN, Isidore Stanislas Henri (1743- c. 1809)
Faits Mémorables des Empereurs de la Chine, tirés des Annales Chinoises. Paris: for the author and M. Ponce, 1788.
First edition, deluxe issue, with the plates printed on papier de Hollande and coloured by a contemporary hand. As recently recognised, Helman’s Faits is based on a 16th-century work, the Dijian tushuo, commissioned to educate the Ming dynasty Wanli emperor in moral precepts by presenting short histories of good and evil emperors throughout the ages (Marcia Reed and Paola Dematté, China on Paper, 2007, no. 20). The engravings are largely based on drawings by Jean Denis Attiret (1702-1768), sponsored by the Emperor. Attiret was a Jesuit painter active in China, where he was appointed imperial Painter and made a mandarin. The work was originally issued in 4 fascicles of varying refinement; the present deluxe hand-coloured issue cost 48 livres, 4 times the price of the basic issue. Bobins IV, 1438; Cohen-de Ricci 479; Cordier 587-8; Lust 1133 (not calling for a dedication leaf).
Quarto (276 x 208mm). Engraved throughout, including title and an engraved dedication leaf by C. Monet after Helman and engraved 24 plates, both plates and dedication coloured by a contemporary hand, 24 leaves of text (thumb-soiling at lower corners, very occasional small stain or spotting). 18th-century dark blue morocco, covers ruled in double gilt fillets, spine with brown morocco label, lettered and decorated in gilt, gilt turn-ins and edges (extremities faintly rubbed).
Faits Mémorables des Empereurs de la Chine, tirés des Annales Chinoises. Paris: for the author and M. Ponce, 1788.
First edition, deluxe issue, with the plates printed on papier de Hollande and coloured by a contemporary hand. As recently recognised, Helman’s Faits is based on a 16th-century work, the Dijian tushuo, commissioned to educate the Ming dynasty Wanli emperor in moral precepts by presenting short histories of good and evil emperors throughout the ages (Marcia Reed and Paola Dematté, China on Paper, 2007, no. 20). The engravings are largely based on drawings by Jean Denis Attiret (1702-1768), sponsored by the Emperor. Attiret was a Jesuit painter active in China, where he was appointed imperial Painter and made a mandarin. The work was originally issued in 4 fascicles of varying refinement; the present deluxe hand-coloured issue cost 48 livres, 4 times the price of the basic issue. Bobins IV, 1438; Cohen-de Ricci 479; Cordier 587-8; Lust 1133 (not calling for a dedication leaf).
Quarto (276 x 208mm). Engraved throughout, including title and an engraved dedication leaf by C. Monet after Helman and engraved 24 plates, both plates and dedication coloured by a contemporary hand, 24 leaves of text (thumb-soiling at lower corners, very occasional small stain or spotting). 18th-century dark blue morocco, covers ruled in double gilt fillets, spine with brown morocco label, lettered and decorated in gilt, gilt turn-ins and edges (extremities faintly rubbed).
HELMAN, Isidore Stanislas Henri (1743- c. 1809)
Faits Mémorables des Empereurs de la Chine, tirés des Annales Chinoises. Paris: for the author and M. Ponce, 1788.
First edition, deluxe issue, with the plates printed on papier de Hollande and coloured by a contemporary hand. As recently recognised, Helman’s Faits is based on a 16th-century work, the Dijian tushuo, commissioned to educate the Ming dynasty Wanli emperor in moral precepts by presenting short histories of good and evil emperors throughout the ages (Marcia Reed and Paola Dematté, China on Paper, 2007, no. 20). The engravings are largely based on drawings by Jean Denis Attiret (1702-1768), sponsored by the Emperor. Attiret was a Jesuit painter active in China, where he was appointed imperial Painter and made a mandarin. The work was originally issued in 4 fascicles of varying refinement; the present deluxe hand-coloured issue cost 48 livres, 4 times the price of the basic issue. Bobins IV, 1438; Cohen-de Ricci 479; Cordier 587-8; Lust 1133 (not calling for a dedication leaf).
Quarto (276 x 208mm). Engraved throughout, including title and an engraved dedication leaf by C. Monet after Helman and engraved 24 plates, both plates and dedication coloured by a contemporary hand, 24 leaves of text (thumb-soiling at lower corners, very occasional small stain or spotting). 18th-century dark blue morocco, covers ruled in double gilt fillets, spine with brown morocco label, lettered and decorated in gilt, gilt turn-ins and edges (extremities faintly rubbed).
Faits Mémorables des Empereurs de la Chine, tirés des Annales Chinoises. Paris: for the author and M. Ponce, 1788.
First edition, deluxe issue, with the plates printed on papier de Hollande and coloured by a contemporary hand. As recently recognised, Helman’s Faits is based on a 16th-century work, the Dijian tushuo, commissioned to educate the Ming dynasty Wanli emperor in moral precepts by presenting short histories of good and evil emperors throughout the ages (Marcia Reed and Paola Dematté, China on Paper, 2007, no. 20). The engravings are largely based on drawings by Jean Denis Attiret (1702-1768), sponsored by the Emperor. Attiret was a Jesuit painter active in China, where he was appointed imperial Painter and made a mandarin. The work was originally issued in 4 fascicles of varying refinement; the present deluxe hand-coloured issue cost 48 livres, 4 times the price of the basic issue. Bobins IV, 1438; Cohen-de Ricci 479; Cordier 587-8; Lust 1133 (not calling for a dedication leaf).
Quarto (276 x 208mm). Engraved throughout, including title and an engraved dedication leaf by C. Monet after Helman and engraved 24 plates, both plates and dedication coloured by a contemporary hand, 24 leaves of text (thumb-soiling at lower corners, very occasional small stain or spotting). 18th-century dark blue morocco, covers ruled in double gilt fillets, spine with brown morocco label, lettered and decorated in gilt, gilt turn-ins and edges (extremities faintly rubbed).
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