“Gavarni” (1804-1866) pseud of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier dit Gavarni. Nouveaux Travestissements pour le théatre et pour le bal Année 1832. A Paris, chez Rittner et Goupil,..lith. De Frey. London published 1832 by Ch.S Tilt 86 Fleet Street.

Tall quarto. 11 2 x 16 2 Original red cloth, with red morocco spine and tips, ruled in gilt. Gilt title: Nouveau /ssemens. Bright covers, with leaf of title and complete with 24 hand- colored lithographs (plate size ca. 6 1/4 x 9"). Some of the plates show moderate gutter dampstains; the following plates are foxed: #4, 11, 12, 13; the others are slightly foxed to nearly fine.

According to Beraldi. The entire series of “Travestissements” (costumes for masquerade) lithographs was published from 1830 to 1834 with a total of 90 plates. Beraldi notes that the first 24 are published in a bound edition bearing the title Nouveaux Travestissements pour le théatre et pour le bal Année 1831. A Paris, chez Rittner et Goupil, lith. De Frey. Our edition is identical except for the title page date of 1832 and the addition of the English publisher: London: Chs Tilt, 86 Fleet Street. Our edition was presumably made for English distribution.

Beraldi further notes that the first thirty lithographs are of a much finer designs than the rest of the series. In particular plates 13, 14, 15, 16 17, 18 19, 27 among the most beautiful pieces of Gavarni. A few of the plates were drawn by Achilles Devéria : 7-12, 31, 36

Of special interest are the cross-dressing images where male costumes are made for girls. Our series has the following: Matelot (M&B 2512), Page (M&B 2515) ; Pecheur (M&B 2516); Jeune en Homme ( M&B 2526) ; Page Jeune Femme en homme (M&B 2527). The entire series of 90 plates seems to have very few plates that show girls actually dressed as men.

Ref: Colas 1933-35 noting that the first 24 were published with title page in Paris 1831 Hiler Hilaire and Meyer. Bibliography of Costume. (1939) Beraldi, (1981) . VIII, 41-46 suites lithographies (M&B) Mahérault & Boche L’oeuvre de Gavarni p559, plates number 2509-2526

None of the other plates for the series of 90 were published in a bound edition. Some of the series were later republished in 1854 Gavarni - Douze nouveaux travestissements. Paris: Hautecoeur-Martinet.

In spite of the condition of some of the plates, this album is of great importance in the study of middle-class evening dress in France in the first third of the 19th century

Not in OCLC; Boston Public Library lists a copy $1500.00