BM

Lithographic pioneer, draughtsman, printer and publisher.

Trained in Munich 1812-1814; established press in Paris 15 April 1816.

Gradually retired from printing business after 1818,

though publications under his name continue to 1825.

Artistic publishing business taken over by Delpech; printing shop taken on by his chef d'atelier Brégeaut.

Bibliography

A. Mellerio & Louis de Nussac, 'La lithographie en France, Charles de Lasteyrie', Gazette des Beaux-Arts XIV 1935, pp.107-119

ALBUM LITHOGRAPHIQUE

C. De Lasteyrie

Oblong folio, 2 vols (280x365mm), each one with 2 t-ps:

designed by Vauzelle in the first volume and by Delpech and Carle Vernet in the second.

First vol. contains 40 lithographs (20 per year) engraved, printed and signed mainly by

C. De Lasteyrie, and some unsigned.

Second vol. contains 32 lithographs (16 for the year 1820 and 16 for the year 1821,

which shows the date) produced by F. Delpech.

All lithographs are after more or less famous artists of the time: for instance,

Bourgeois, Carle and Horace Vernet, Thiénon, Lescot, Lecomte, Bessa, De Marne, Gros, Granger, Vauzelle, Hersent, Guérin, Bidauld, Redouté, Lebas, Jacob, Villeneuve, Delorme, etc.

Printed on heavy paper, wide margins. Near-contemporary quarter red morocco and marbled paper over pasteboards. Gilt dates to spine in compartments decorated with gilt-ruled borders.

Excellent condition, just some sporadic light thumb marks to blank margins.

An incredible collection of what specialists defined "incunables" of the lithographic art, since these images showing views of European landscapes, botanical illustrations, reproduction of the artworks of the best artists of the time, including orientalists scenes, etc., were among the very first historical attempts at making decorative images through the new technique of lithography at the beginning of the 19th century

De Lasteyrie was a "lithographic pioneer, draughtsman, printer and publisher.

Trained in Munich 1812-1814; established press in Paris 15 April 1816.

Gradually retired from printing business after 1818, though publications under his name continue to 1825.

Artistic publishing business taken over by Delpech; printing shop taken on by his chef d'atelier Brégeaut.

His name often abbreviated on prints to "C. de Last."

This collection includes also the famous image known as Delpech's Print Shop, which is the t-p of the first part in the second volume."

(Delpech, in British Museum Online Catalogue)

The invention of lithography at the end of the 18th century had an immediate and profound impact on the

Parisian Print Market.

In just 20 years, 18 lithographic workshops opened in Paris alone. In addition to their press operation, many master printers provided artists with a stone delivery service and a place to sell their prints.

Delpech s Print Shop depicts the earliest years of this burgeoning market. Carle Vernet s image of likely customers for an album lithographique is also a testament to the affordability of prints, as he depicted patrons from various classes who are identifiable by their different styles of clothing and headdress." (Art Institute, Chicago).

A. Mellerio & Louis de Nussac,

'La lithographie en France, Charles de Lasteyrie',

Gazette des Beaux-Arts XIV 1935, pp.107-119.

MASTERPRINT

RHINOCÉROS UNICORNE

1/13 de la grandeur naturelle

Lithogr. de C. de Last.

fine contemporary handcolouring

c.1820

PARIS

DAS ASIATISCHE EINHORNIGE NASHORN

1/13 der natürlichen Größe

Frühe Meister-Lithographie

Altkoloriert von Hand

von

Charles Philibert du Saillant. Comte de Lasteyrie

nach Werner/Huet

im Stein bezeichnet

Lithogr. de C. de Last

Paris

um 1820