[THE MOST IMPORTANT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF COSTUME]. Bibliographie generale du Costume et de la Mode

Paris: Librairie Rene Colas, 1933. FIRST EDITION. Hardcover. Very good. Two volumes (COMPLETE) bound in one. [viii] pp., 1412 cols., colonne 1412 (numeraz. continuata), 70 pp. (Table methodique) + iv pp. (Index to the Table). Bound for Martin Breslauer in contemporary German maroon half calf over maroon cloth, all original wrappers bound in (spine sunned and faded to chestnut brown), t.e.g., others untrimmed. Internally FINE. Beautiful Copy of the First Edition, limited to 1000 numbered copies (this one being No. 849). The still-indispensable, virtually comprehensive repertoire for the understanding and study of the Costume from antiquity to the 20th-century, including civil, military, and religious costume, clothing and fashion. While the work is principally European in scope, there is significant coverage given to other parts of the world. Approximately 3,121 work are meticulously described, with full collations and plate counts. The work is arranged alphabetically according to author (or if anonymous by title). So extensive is the work that there is even an Index to the Index (sic!). That this massive work was created by the heroic efforts of a single individual is amazing.

Our copy was bound for Martin Breslauer, of Berlin, who was at that time justly considered to one of the greatest European booksellers. Breslauer was nearly ruined by Nazi tax-collectors and was forced to flee with his family to London. The present volume was allowed by the Nazis to be exported, having been appraised as "worthless" by a sympathetic colleague. Martin Breslauer was killed during the Blitz on London in 1940. -- By descent to his son Bernard H. Breslauer, bought by us at the sale of the famed Bibliotheca Bibliographica Breslaueriana (Christie's NY 6/27/2005 lot 1511).

Besterman, p. 1505.