Viagem pitoresca e historica ao Brasil ("Picturesque and historic tour to Brazil"),: aquarelas e desenhos que não foram reproduzidos na edição de Firmin Didot, 1834.

Paris: R. De Castro Maya,, 1954-55. With a compelling association First and sole edition, limited issue of 400 copies, this copy out of series but, as stated on the limitation leaf, specially printed for Maurice Callanquin, the technical director of the Fonderie Caslon. The Bodoni typeface used for this work was cast by the Fonderie Caslon. While relatively well represented institutionally, Debret's work is commercially scarce. The sumptuous plates are after drawings and watercolours by the French artist Jean-Baptiste Debret (1768-1848). He studied at the French Academy of Fine Arts under the great Jacques-Louis David, travelling to Brazil in 1816 as a member of a French Artistic Mission commissioned by João VI of Portugal. He created an arts lyceum in Rio de Janeiro, the Escola Real de Artes e Ofícios, which later became the Academia Imperial de Belas Artes during the reign of emperor Dom Pedro I. During his 16-year stay, Debret became an attentive observer of the tropical forest and indigenous peoples. The illustrations include public festivals, customs, animals, fruits, settlements, the African diaspora, and the court in Rio de Janeiro. He returned to France in 1831, shortly thereafter publishing Voyage Pittoresque et Historique au Brésil in 26 fascicles (1834-9). The present collection is compiled from art not featured in Debret's book. It came from the private collection of Brazilian businessman and art collector Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya (1894-1968), who acquired the Debret's art in France. Maya created his Fundação in 1963, through which is exhibited some 22,000 items at the Museu do Açude and at the Museu da Chácara do Céu. This edition included a further 400 numbered copies, including ten marked A to J and one on "papel Japão Imperial". Folio. 100 pochoir plates (570 x 380 mm) illustrated recto only, together with 22 ff. of text (570 x 380 mm) printed on recto only. Text and plates loose in thick card wrappers, lettered in black on front wrapper, as issued. All housed in grey buckram solander box as issued, lettered in black on spine and front panel. Title page printed in black and green. Wrappers lightly toned, occasional finger soiling, minor offsetting to verso; box rubbed with a few marks, paper lining somewhat peeling. An excellent copy. Borba de Moraes, p. 252.