The frontispiece portrait of Poussin is signed as 'Engraved by J. Posselwhite' and captioned, 'N. Poussin. From the original Picture by himself in the Gallery of the Louvre'. The Planche Iere. is signed as drawn by Bartolini, etched by 'A.M.' and engraved by 'V.M.'
References
N. Poussin, Correspondance de Nicolas Poussin, ed. C. Jouanny (1911).
Summary Note
The 'Planche Iere' shows 'Premier Prix Des Beaux Arts Pour L'École Française', a medal, the obverse showing a portrait-head of Poussin; the reverse carries the date 'An. V.'
Provenance
Copy Note
The half-title is inscribed in ink, 'Oct.3.1853 To Miss Beale, with kind regards' and, in a seemingly different hand, 'Rouen Augt 18. 1825 J.J.Masquenir'.
On a blank leaf between the 'Planche Iere' and the 'Avertissement' has been pasted in a watercolour; the leaf is inscribed in ink, 'Hameau de Villers. Clos Poussin. Entrance of the Enclosure where Poussin's house stood near Andelys in which he was born 1594. At the present day there remain no traces of the house which this great painter inhabited. A few solitary apple-trees remain to mark & overshadow the house.'
Binding Note
19th-century marbled-papered boards; rebacked and recornered in calf in 20th century, spine lettered 'Lettres De Poussin' and '1824'.