CORNU (Paul). Galerie des modes et costumes français dessinés d'après nature, 1778-1787. Paris : Librairie centrale des beaux-arts, [1911-1914]. - 13 issues in 4 volumes (folio, 400 x 300), leaves, in printed issue covers, beige half cloth folder with corners and flaps, closing laces (publisher's portfolios). Colas, no. 1158. - Lipperheide, no. 1129 (for the original). - Cohen/de Ricci, col. 420 (for the original). A sumptuous publication reproducing 325 color plates from the Galerie des modes, "the most beautiful collection of 18th-century fashions in existence" according to Colas. These beautiful full-length figures, drawn by Desrais, Leclerc, Martin, Simonet, Saint-Aubin and Watteau, represent men's, women's and children's costumes for town, court, ball or theater, as well as numerous transvestites. Here, they are engraved on copper in the format of the originals, hand-colored after the finest models and printed on strong Hollande paper. The young archivist-paleographer Paul Cornu (1881-1914), librarian at the Arts Décoratifs, wrote the general introduction and the descriptive leaflets accompanying the plates. The extremely rare original collection was published by Esnauts et Rapilly from 1778 to 1787. Colas specifies that he knows of no complete collection. This meticulous reproduction, published in issues and by subscription between 1911 and 1914, was printed in small numbers. It is also rarely complete, as the quality of the plates and the charm of the models call for framing... Publication prospectus and subscription form enclosed. Beautiful and rare set, complete with all issues. Paper restoration in the lower corner of the first 8 leaves and at the edges of the cover of the last issue. A few small tears to covers. Cover of last issue repaired.