LELOIR (Maurice). A woman of quality in the last century. Paris. Jean Boussod, Manzi, Joyant & Cie, 1899. - In-folio, 392 x 295. Navy-blue morocco, Du Seuil-style gilt decoration on covers, ornate ribbed spine, interior frame in the same morocco decorated with gilt fillets and corner finials, blue moire lining and endpapers, double endpapers, gilt edges, covers retained, bordered slipcase (Ch. Septier). Superb edition of 200 copies, illustrated with 87 color compositions based on delicate watercolors by painter and collector Maurice LELOIR (1853-1940). According to Carteret, this is "one of Maurice Leloir's finest illustrations. These compositions depict the woman of quality in the 18th century, from the moment she wakes up to the moment she goes to bed, in graceful, faithful scenes that constitute remarkable documentation of the 18th century, from the point of view of costumes as well as furnishings and decoration; the engraved text is surrounded by very interesting compositions". In 1907, Leloir founded the Société de l'Histoire du Costume, with the aim of providing the city of Paris with a Museum of Costume (now the Palais Galliera). A superb copy bound by Charles Septier, entirely mounted on tabs. It bears the number 78. Provenance: Robert Beauvillain, with bookplate (sale June 5, 2020, no. 244).