Splendid illustrations - Lot 382

Splendid illustrations HARDY (Joseph) A picturesque and descriptive tour in the mountains of the High Pyrenees: comprising twenty-four views of the most interesting scenes, from original drawings taken on the spot; with some account of the bathing establishments in that department of France. London, Ackermann, 1825. In-8: VIII, 84pp; a frontispiece map (topographical map) in black and 24 views (format 70 X 90 mm) engraved in aquatint, finely enhanced in watercolor at the time, and mounted on strong paper. Printed on fine Madagascar wove paper. Handwritten bookplate Lieut. Holman. ½ brown morocco with corners, spine ribbed and decorated, title and gilt fillets, cold irons, gilt head. A very fine untrimmed copy with fine margins and very fresh inside. Autograph address to a couple (Byre?) who seem to have accompanied Hardy on several of his hikes. A work of great originality and incomparable illustration quality. This is the "jewel" of Pyrenean books. HARDY's trip took place in the late spring of 1822. For a time, HARDY was accompanied by another little-known artist: John Claude NATTES. The only comparable work in the Pyrenean library is the "Tableau Pittoresque des Pyrénées Françaises" or "petit FROSSARD" published by the pastor of Bagnères in 1839. The same year saw the publication of "Voyage Pittoresque et Descriptif dans les Hautes-Pyrénées", a translation of HARDY's text by BARRÈRE de VIEUZAC.