MERCURE DES SALONS, French and foreign magazine. Album des Modes. Paris: Boulevard des Italiens, 1830. - Four in-8 volumes, 223 x 148. Cuir-de-Russie in violet, green or red, depending on the volume, broad framing of gilt and cold-stamped fillets and roulettes on the boards, large cold-stamped finial with gilt lozenges in the center, spine with 4 nerves decorated in the same taste, interior roulette, gilt edges (period binding). Colas, no. 2038. - Lipperheide, n° 4614. - Gaudriault, La Gravure de mode féminine en France, 1983, p. 9. Extremely rare collection of the first 4 quarters of Mercure des Salons. In the wake of La Mode, launched in 1829, the July Monarchy saw the emergence of a multitude of more or less ephemeral fashion journals. Created by Adolphe Thiéry, director of Le Petit Courrier des Dames, Le Mercure des Salons was one of the first, offering a selection of the best articles and most attractive designs from various French and foreign periodicals. It only existed for a few months, from January 1830 to March 1831. "After a few plates resembling those in the Petit Courrier, he published a series of particularly pleasing engravings. They are not signed, but are reminiscent of Gavarni's style" (Gaudriault). Each weekly issue contained 2 fashion engravings, i.e., for the year 1830, 102 numbered plates of women's costumes and accessories in color. The CCfr lists only 2 complete copies of this magazine (BnF and Moulins). Charming romantic bindings in various colors. Volume I is dressed in purple, volumes II and IV in green and volume III in red. The irons and castors used vary on each volume. There is a difference in the typography of the title and tomation on the spine of the last volume. Spines of the 2 green volumes slightly faded, scuffing reintroduced on the second plate of volume II, foxing and browning, large tear with missing plate no. 94. Royal stamp on each issue.