[FÜSSLI, Heinrich Ludwig], Collection des Costumes de la Suisse et de ses pays limitrophes
Zurich, Keller & Füssli, c. 1820.
£ 2,400
16.o (9,5 x 11 cm). 50 unnumbered pages. 25 hand-coloured plates, including title-page. Original full red morocco binding with an acorn pattern along edges, central panel with floral corners and a small rosette in the centre of front cover. Spine in five compartments divided by double-filets. Gilt lettering on spine and all edges gilt. Some sign of wear to hinges, head and tail of spine. A little yellowed throughout with some foxing and thumb marks to margins. Still a fine, clean copy.
This small souvenir book includes some beautifully coloured aquatints portraying the costumes of the main cities of Switzerland and the surrounding regions during the 19th century. This is a very rare publication as it contains all the plates in their original binding. The costumes are here represented within rural scenes also showing the typical activities of the area to which they pertain.
The aquatints were most probably designed by one of the publishers, Rudolph Heinrich Fussli who studied with the famous Swiss landscape painter Johann Ludwig (or Louis) Bleuler. Fussli and Johann Keller, the other named publisher, were specialised in such publications that were usually sold to tourists as souvenirs of their travels.
List of illustrations: [Title page]; 1. Zurich; 2. Berne; 3. Lucerne; 4. Uri; 5. Schwyz; 6. Unterwalden; 7. Glarus; 8. Zoug; 9. Frybourg; 10. Soleure; 11. Bale; 12. Schaffhouse; 13. Appenzell; 14. St. Gall; 15. Grisons; 16. Argovie; 17. Thurgovie; 18. Tessin; 19. Vaud; 20. Valais; 21. Neuchatel; 22. Geneve; 23. Tyrol; 24. Foret noire.
Bibliography: Colas, 660.