VERGNAUD, Narcisse.
L'art de créer les jardins, contenant les préceptes généraux de cet art; leur application développée sur des vues perpectives, coupes et élévations, par des exemples choisis dans les jardins les plus célèbres de France et d'Angleterre; et le tracé pratique de toute espèce de jardins. ... Nouvelle edition.
Paris, La Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret (on the back of the half-title: "Imprimerie et fonderie de Fain, imprimeur de l'Université Royale de France"), 1839. Royal folio (49.5 x 32.5 cm). With 24 lithographed plates showing plans, designs and views of gardens in England, France and Italy. Modern black half morocco, on 7 supports, gold-tooled spine. [3], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank], 106 pp.
€ 4,300
Beautifully illustrated and finely printed second edition of a manual on garden planning and design by the French garden architect Narcisse Vergnaud (1794-1848), first published (also by Roret) in 1835. The finely lithographed plates show plans and views of the gardens of Blenheim, Buckingham, Windsor, Longleat, Chatsworth, Stowe, Chiswick and Lord Pembrokes estate at Wilton in England; the Pitti Palace at Florence; and Morfontaine, Malmaison, St. Leu, Beauregard at Villeneuve, Marly-le-Roy and Bougival in France; as well as some model designs of public parks.
At least the present copy is printed on very large (Royal) wove paper (with no watermark), giving generous margins for both the text leaves and the plates, the latter on somewhat heavier paper. The third leaf (with the dedication) has been cut down and mounted on a large modern leaf. With a few mostly marginal tears repaired and occasional faint foxing, still in very good condition. Springer p. 81; Berlin Kat. 3313.
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