Lot 425
425
DORÉ, G. Histoire dramatique, pittoresque et caricaturale de la Sainte Russie. D'après les chroniqueurs et historiens Nestor, Nikan, (etc.). Sous la direction genérale de Sotain. Paris, J. Bry ainé, n.d. (1854). (4), 207 pp. W. 500 wood-engr. in text by Doré and 2 pp. w. sponged red ink ("les taches rouges"). 4°. Cont. black mor., spine raised and dec. w. 5 gold and red cold. stars, and 2 red labels, marbled endpapers, or. lithogr. wrps. bound up. (Extremities very mildly chafed, some light foxing throughout).
Nearly 500 satirical drawings were made by Doré during the Crimean War (1853-1856) who used his art to mock Russia, using the war as a pretext, to ridicule the Slavic empire and denounce its supposed barbarity. Doré - at that time aged 22 - was driven by a patriotic impulse that launched himself into this iconoclastic story, willingly outrageous and fiercely parodic. Inspired by the 'literature in prints' of Rodolphe Töpffer, this work is today considered one of the first French comic strips after those of Cham. First and preferred edition with the red 'stains' on pages 89 and 97. W. bookplate of 'Lt. Colonel Salle' (Franco-Prussian War?). - Sander 234; Vicaire III, 286; Carteret III, 293.€ 500
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