LESAGE (Alain René). History of Gil Blas de Santillane. Paris : Paulin, 1835. - Large in-8, long-grained charcoal gray morocco, gilt fillets in frames and gilt arabesques on the corners of the boards, spine decorated in the same spirit, multiple gilt fillets in frames inside, lining and endpapers of gray moiré silk, gilt edges on witnesses, cover and spine preserved, spine folder and bands with anthracite gray morocco cover, case (Huser). One of the most beautiful romantic illustrated books, decorated with a portrait of Gil Blas on chine in frontispiece, and more than 450 vignettes, all woodcut after Jean Gigoux whose main production it is, which allowed him to become famous. This edition is really important in the history of the book, because more than a "renovation", as Carteret says, it gave a real "impulse" in the world of publishing. It was indeed the first production illustrated with woodcuts to have a vast commercial success which pushed other booksellers to snatch the engravers and to publish thereafter the numerous and beautiful romantic editions that we know. In addition to the 450 or so vignettes by Gigoux, there are a hundred or so lettering plates that form real little paintings. Some of them are by Gigoux, but those with naturalist motifs are due to Louis Français, then a student of Gigoux, who was to become one of the most renowned illustrators of the Romantic period. A superb copy bound in pamphlet by Huser, complete with the boards and spine of the front cover dated 1836. It is enriched with the prospectus of the publication of this edition, bound at the end, as well as with the unbound prospectus of the "Diable boiteux". Spine of the folder faded.