Petit almanach de Paris augmenté; parfait de toutes les planches des mois pour l'année 1741. by (EMROIDERED BINDING) - 1740

Paris, par J.M. Papillon. Et se vend a Liege chez J.P. Gramme, graveur en bois, (1740). 32mo. (95 x 58 mm). (56 pp). Titlepage within woodcut border, 12 woodcut plates by Gramme and 12 small woodcut vignettes for each month. In an emboidered binding of beige satin, with on the covers a broad baroque frame in high relief of gold thread with embroidered flowers in the centre. Flat spine embroidered with gold thread and pailettes in a wavy line. On the front cover a red flower and a yellow on the back cover. Chintz paste downs, Edges gilt. (gold a bit oxidIsed, embroidered flowers a bit stained; else in a perfect condition).

This is the only copy of this almanach we could trace for this year (1741). All the years of this almanach are extremely rare according to KvK and Worldcat, where only 3 years are present. Papillon started his 'Petit almanach de Paris' in 1726 as a means to promote himself and the first year to appear was 1727. It was immediately very well received and the woodcuts were highly praised. Most plates are signed Gramme exc. The December plate is dated 1739. The plates go with the months, are very attractive and depict e.g. dancing peasants, musicians, palace gardens and skating people. The almanack consists of a calendar, a description of the four seasons, a short history of the world, Europe and minerals, osme lines of Ovid's Remedia amoris, and practical advises. Jean-Michel Papillon (1698 - 1776) was a very prolific French wood engraver. He was attached to the Imprimerie Royale as a wood engraver and made many vignettes and ornaments. [c.f. Carteret, Les almanachs Français, no. 112; A.W. Chatto, A treatise on woodengraving, p. 511].
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