LE MIROIR DES GRACES ~ ou l’art de combiner l’élégance, la modestie, la simplicité et l’économie dans l’habillement. Avis utiles adressés aux femmes sur la conservation de leur santé et de leur beauté, sir l’agrément des manières et le bon ton dans la Société; par une dame qui a étudié la mode et le bon goût chez les nations les plu civilisées de l’Europe. Traduit de l’anglais. Paris: [Brasseur aîné for] l’Editeur, Galignani, Delaunay, 1811.
12mo (129 × 70 mm), pp. [4], 200 plus 4 engraved plates (one a frontispiece) by Gatine. Light browning towards the end. Contemporary vertically grained red morocco, gilt, spine in compartments with wheel and leaf tools. Spine and corners very lightly rubbed. A very pretty copy.
Sole edition of this rare little handbook of ladies’ fashion and deportment. Advertised as a translation from the English, there is no obvious British analogue, though it is an interesting indication of the esteem in which British fashion was held in France at this period. The four plates are especially charming depictions of Austen-era styles. The format is very much that of contemporary almanacs with similar titles, but Le Miroir des Graces appeared only once. WorldCat lists no UK or US copies (copies at BnF, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek and Kunstbibliothek Berlin only).