ASIA, EUROPE, AFRICA, THE AMERICAS: WITH 240 VIVIDLY HAND-COLORED PLATES OF COSTUME AND CULTURE FROM AROUND THE WORLD

[LOUMYER, Jean-François-Nicolas] DALLY, N.; CIBRARIO, Luigi. Usi e Costumi Sociali, Politici e Religiosi di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo. Torino: Stabilimento Tipografico Fontana, 1844-47. Four volumes. Royal octavo, contemporary half tan straight-grain morocco gilt, marbled boards, uncut. $4500.

First Italian edition of Loumyer's splendid survey of the costumes of the world, finely illustrated with a wonderful series of 240 vibrantly hand-colored plates. Handsomely bound in contemporary morocco-gilt and marbled boards.

Loumyer's comprehensive survey of world culture and costume includes 85 plates in the Asia volume, 37 plates in the Oceania volume, 41 plates in the Africa and Americas volume, and 76 plates in the Europe volume. The plates were engraved by Doms, Duverger, Lisbet, Markaert, Mercier and others. Text in Italian. First published in French, 1843-44, with the author given as Auguste Whalen, a pseudonym for Jean-François-Nicolas Loumyer. Hiler & Hiler, 553. Colas 3042. Bookplates. Young owner's pencil signature to rear pastedown of Volume II.

Plates clean and fine, most with original tissue guards, vividly colored; text blocks with expert repairs. A clean, excellent copy in contemporary Italian morocco-gilt.