Desconocido - Ilustraciones del alfabeto - 1790-1820

Anonymous (French School) - Alphabet & Numbers [Satirical Alphabet and Book of Numbers, 39 Plates / 2 Portfolios] - c. 1790-1820 Description : Extraordinary and highly unusual educational and satirical work from the French school, published anonymously between the late 18th and early 19th century. It is presented in an oblong format (oblong 8vo, approx. 15 cm x 24 cm) and is beautifully divided into two original cardboard folders or portfolios: one exclusively dedicated to the letters and the other to the numbers. This specimen is notable for containing 39 loose plates, executed by copper engraving or fine lithography with a crisp, clean line, offering a high-quality stucco-like finish. The complete set comprises 29 letters and 12 numbers. The copper plates are entirely anonymous, and the work structurally lacks any explanatory or typographic text, giving full prominence to the power of the images. All 39 loose plates share identical, uniform dimensions, proving they come from the same original period printing rather than a later mixed assembly. The characters are monumental and integrated into scenes of genre, allegorical, historical, or strongly caricatured nature. The biting and ironic tone sits in the worthy satirical tradition of great French illustrators. The plates abound with subtle visual puns where the objects and themes depicted (such as Astronomy for the 'A', games for the 'B', the Devil for the 'D', or The Two Sexes for the '2') correspond to their alphabetic letter or number. Year: c. 1790-1820 (Undated edition / sine anno). Content: Complete suite of 39 engraved loose plates (29 letters and 12 numbers). Binding: Two original illustrated and titled cardboard portfolios (one for letters, one for numbers). Dimensions: approx. 15 cm x 24 cm. Condition:[Insert condition here, e.g., Good overall condition given its nature and age. The outer cardboard folders show typical wear, rubbed edges, and shelf-staining. The interior plates remain crisp with fine, sharp impressions, displaying minor marginal foxing/spotting that does not affect the central imagery. Please see photos.] SPANISH (Español) Title:Anónimo (Escuela Francesa) - Alphabet & Chiffres [Abecedario y Libro de Cifras Satírico, 39 Láminas / 2 Carpetas] - c. 1790-1820 Description:Extraordinaria y muy inusual obra pedagógica y satírica de la escuela francesa, publicada de forma anónima entre finales del siglo XVIII y principios del siglo XIX. Se presenta en un formato apaisado (octavo oblongo, aprox. 15 cm x 24 cm) y se encuentra magníficamente dividida en dos carpetas o carteras de cartón originales: una dedicada exclusivamente a las letras y la otra a los números. Este ejemplar destaca por contener 39 láminas sueltas (planos sueltos), grabadas al cobre o mediante litografía fina de trazo limpio, que presentan un acabado estucado de gran calidad. La colección completa reúne 29 letras y 12 números. Las placas de cobre son completamente anónimas y la obra carece por estructura de cualquier tipo de texto explicativo o tipográfico adjunto, otorgando todo el protagonismo a la fuerza de la imagen. Todas las láminas mantienen un tamaño idéntico y homogéneo, evidenciando que pertenecen al mismo tiraje original de época y no a una mezcla posterior. Cada plano integra monumentalmente el carácter tipográfico en escenas costumbristas, alegóricas, históricas o fuertemente caricaturescas, con un tono mordaz que recuerda a la gran tradición satírica de ilustradores franceses. Se incluyen elementos visuales ingeniosos donde los objetos y las temáticas de las escenas (como la Astronomía en la 'A', juegos en la 'B', el Demonio en la 'D' o Los Dos Sexos en el '2') corresponden alfabéticamente a su respectiva letra o número. Año: c. 1790-1820 (Edición sin fecha / sine anno). Contenido: Suite completa de 39 láminas grabadas sueltas (29 letras y 12 números). Encuadernación: Dos carpetas de cartón originales grabadas y subtituladas (una para letras, una para números). Dimensiones: aprox. 15 cm x 24 cm. Estado:[Indicar aquí el estado, e.g., Buen estado para un manual escolar de esta antigüedad. Las carpetas exteriores de cartón presentan las lógicas rozaduras en los bordes y manchas de almacenamiento habituales por el paso del tiempo. Las láminas interiores se conservan limpias y con buena impronta del grabado, mostrando ligeras manchas marginales de foxing (óxido) que no afectan a los motivos principales. Ver fotos.] ENGLISH (English) Title:Anonymous (French School) - Alphabet & Chiffres [Satirical Alphabet and Book of Numbers, 39 Plates / 2 Portfolios] - c. 1790-1820 Description: An extraordinary and highly unusual educational and satirical work from the French school, published anonymously between the late 18th and early 19th century. It is presented in an oblong format (oblong 8vo, approx. 15 cm x 24 cm) and is beautifully divided into two original cardboard folders or portfolios: one exclusively dedicated to the letters and the other to the numbers. This specimen is notable for containing 39 loose plates, executed by copper engraving or fine lithography with a crisp, clean line, offering a high-quality copper-stuccoed finish. The complete set comprises 29 letters and 12 numbers. The copper plates are entirely anonymous, and the work structurally lacks any explanatory or typographic text, giving full prominence to the power of the images. All 39 loose plates share identical, uniform dimensions, proving they come from the same original period printing rather than a later mixed assembly. The characters are monumental and integrated into scenes of genre, allegorical, historical, or strongly caricatured nature. The biting and ironic tone sits in the esteemed satirical tradition of great French illustrators. The plates abound with clever visual puns where the objects and themes depicted (such as Astronomy for 'A', games for 'B', the Devil for 'D', or The Two Sexes for '2') correspond alphabetically to their respective letter or number. Year: c. 1790-1820 (Undated edition / sine anno). Content: Complete suite of 39 engraved loose plates (29 letters and 12 numbers). Binding: Two original illustrated and titled cardboard portfolios (one for letters, one for numbers). Dimensions: approx. 15 cm x 24 cm. Condition:[Insert condition here, e.g., Good overall condition given its nature and age. The outer cardboard folders show typical wear, rubbed edges, and shelf-staining. The interior plates remain crisp with fine, sharp impressions, displaying minor marginal foxing/spotting that does not affect the central imagery. Please see photos.] ABC/123.. FRENCH ANONYMOUS WORK FROM THE LATE 18TH OR EARLY 19TH CENTURY WITH 39 COPPER ENGRAVINGS OF LETTERS AND NUMBERS AND SCENES OF LIFE. Description ABC AND 1, .2,3... Book of numbers and alphabet in French, published anonymously in a cross-format 8vo on a striped illustrated and titled cardboard strip, titled Alphabet & Chiffres. Contains 39 loose plates, each with a letter or a number and a copper-stippled scene. The copper plates are anonymous and text is missing. In total 29 letters and 12 numbers. It is undated, but likely from the late 18th or early 19th century. Approximately 15 cm x 24 cm.

Estimate:£335.03

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