150 beautiful chromolithographs of 19th-century Tunis with ca. 100 proofs without letterpress text b 1890

Charles Lallemand

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• About the artwork
  Tunis et ses environs.
  Paris, Quantin, 1890. Large 4to (31 x 24 cm).
  With 150 detailed chromolithographs (most in the text; some on separate plates), with extra ca. 100 duplicates without text of the illustrations. Contemporary half morocco.
  
  
  First edition of a beautifully colour-illustrated account of the city of Tunis and its surroundings, by the French watercolour artist Charles Lallemand (1826-1904), who was responsible for both the illustrations and the text. The text is divided into 20 chapters covering various subjects, such as mosques, religion, antiquities, coffeeshops and Muslim women, all with relevant illustrations. Many include Islamic decorative patterns in addition to views of architectural or cultural sites and costume prints, and they document a great deal of Muslim culture that has since been lost. In the present copy nearly two-thirds of the chromolithographs are present in two versions, one with letterpress text as usual, and one without letterpress text. The book was re-printed or re-issued in 1892. With occasional very minor foxing and with the half-title slightly browned. The binding is very good, with only the spine slightly faded and a small tear in the marbled paper. Fine copy.
  
  Vicaire, Manuel de l'amateur, p. 946; not in Atabey, Colas; Hiler; Lipperheide.
• About the artist
  Charles Lallemand (1826-1904) was a French watercolor artist. He was the illustrator and writer of a book about the city of Tunis and its surroundings. The book was re-printed or re-issued in 1892.