6 fine plates Paul et Virginie

Descourtis (Charles-Melchior).- Suite (A) of 6 fine plates illustrating the story of Paul et Virginie by Jacques Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre,

beautifully hand-coloured aquatints by Charles Melchior Descourtis after Schall, images each c.320 x 407mm, each captioned beneath and with engraved text from the novel, all in excellent clean condition, all but 1 mounted on card, the other framed and glazed, Paris, 1788.

***Stunning illustrations to one of the most important novels of 18th century France. This tragic tale is set in Mauritius and tells the story of the idyllic childhood, sexual awakening and subsequent separation and death of Paul and Virginie..