GAMA MACHADO (Chevalier, José J. da). Theory of resemblances - Lot 77

GAMA MACHADO (Chevalier, José J. da). Theory of resemblances or philosophical essay on the means of determining the physical and moral dispositions of animals according to analogies of form... Decorated with twenty plates. Paris, Treuttel & Würtz, Delaunay, 1831, in-4°, long-grained plum morocco, double framing of thin or bold gilded fillets around the boards, in the corners, large mosaic fan-iron, in the center of the first board, arms, in the second, crowned number M, richly decorated spine with a mosaic iron repeated twice, interior gilded roulette, lining and endpapers of embossed paper with floral decoration, gilded edges (Simier, relieur du roi). Collation: 1 f. title, 1 f. title, 129 pp., 1 f. table of contents, 22 plates. ORIGINAL EDITION and first printing. A frontispiece, Cimetière des fourmis, and 20 lithographed plates out of text, colored and gummed, some after Girardet. Da Gama Machado was Commander and Gentleman of the Royal Household of the King of Portugal; he lived surrounded by his birds. His Théorie des ressemblances was published over a period of some thirty years, in four volumes published in 1831, 1836, 1844 and 1858 respectively. The reunion of all four volumes is rare, especially as each was printed in small numbers. Prestigious copy bound with the coat of arms and cipher of the Queen of Portugal Dona Maria II da Glória (1819-1853), who reigned from 1826 to 1828 and from 1834 to her death. A gift from the author, who enriched it with an E.A. : A sua Majestade a Reynha de Portugal Respeitoza offerta de seu Vabbueloefiel creado José Joaquim da Gama Machado This copy includes five plates not listed in the table: Vallisniria, le Torcal, La Fritillaire à damiers..., Nicotiane..., Laite du cabillaud. Alphonse Simier (1795 (?)-1859) succeeded his father in 1824. Like his father, he was appointed bookbinder to the King, the Duchess of Berry and the Duke of Bordeaux. His workshop had a large output, supplying the court, royal libraries and numerous bibliophiles, including Lord Henry Seymour. The iron "à l'éventail d'angle" is also found on the 1821 Schiller bound by the same workshop for the Duchesse de Berry, reproduced by Beraldi in La Reliure du XIXe siècle, T. I, p. 84. The label of Simier, Relieur du roi, Rue Saint-Honoré n° 152, Paris, has been affixed to the verso of the endpaper. Discreet nail marks on upper cover. Size : 289 x 212 mm. Provenances: Dona Maria II da Glória; Bourlon de Rouvre (Cat. I, 1979, no. 94, reproduction), with his bookplate. Nissen, ZBI, 1472; Brunet, V, 800 ("Ouvrage imprimé aux frais de l'auteur, et tiré à petit nombre"); Culot (P.), Relieurs et reliures décorées en France à l'époque romantique, pp. 548-549.