1892 Near Fine Book - Paul and Virginia Illustrated by Maurice Leloir
Author: Bernardin de Saint‑Pierre. Illustrated by Maurice Leloir.
Title: Paul and Virginia.
Publisher: New York, Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, 1892.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8 x 5.5 inches.
Pages: 197 pages.
Binding: Attractive and near fine publisher’s original decorative white cloth binding elaborately stamped in gilt and green with floral and arabesque ornamentation to the front cover and spine (hinges fine - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Upper edge gilt. The binding is remarkably well preserved with bright gilt and minimal wear, an unusually clean example of this ornate late nineteenth-century publisher’s binding.
Content: Near fine content (bright, tight and clean - as shown). Pages fresh and clean. The volume remains tight and solid, presenting beautifully.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with in text and full-page plates by Maurice Leloir. Complete
Estimate: (USD 200–250).
The book: Paul and Virginia is one of the most celebrated sentimental romances of the eighteenth century, first published in 1788. Set on the island of Mauritius, the story follows the innocent friendship and eventual tragic love between two children raised together in a tropical paradise far from the corruption of European society. Bernardin de Saint-Pierre’s novel became enormously popular across Europe and America during the nineteenth century, admired for its lyrical descriptions of nature and its moral vision rooted in simplicity, virtue, and the harmony between humanity and the natural world.
This finely produced American edition issued by Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. reflects the publisher’s late nineteenth-century taste for richly decorated gift books. The elegant white cloth binding, enhanced with gilt and green floral ornamentation, echoes the natural imagery central to the story itself. Such decorative publisher’s bindings were designed both as reading copies and as attractive presentation volumes for the home library.
The volume is further enriched by the illustrations of Maurice Leloir, whose detailed historical scenes bring to life the landscapes and emotional intensity of Saint-Pierre’s romantic narrative.
The author: Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (1737–1814) was a French writer and naturalist best known for Paul et Virginie, a novel that achieved extraordinary popularity during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Influenced by the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Saint-Pierre emphasized the moral purity of life close to nature. His writings contributed to the early development of Romanticism and helped shape European literary fascination with exotic landscapes and idealized innocence.
The illustrator: Maurice Leloir (1853–1940) was a distinguished French illustrator and historical artist renowned for his meticulous attention to costume, architecture, and historical detail. He illustrated numerous literary classics and historical works during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His illustrations for Paul and Virginia combine narrative sensitivity with careful historical observation, enhancing the emotional atmosphere of Saint-Pierre’s timeless tale.