Ramón Torres-Méndez

Costumbres Colombianas
Ramón Torres-Méndez, c.1851
[TORRES-MÉNDEZ, Ramón (1809-1885). Cuadros de Costumbres Colombianas. Paris: A. Delarue, c.1858.]
Rare, very extensive suite of Colombian costume plates. By a Colombian artist and issued in Colombia. Torres-Méndez was the most prolific of 19th century Colombian painters in the popular costumbrista tradition. An edition with 50[?] plates was published in Bogotá in 1851, but according to OCLC this survives in only one copy, at the Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín (see preceding lot). Although these plates were printed in Paris, they appear to be in a contemporary Colombian binding and likely issued in Bogotá. Facsimile editions appeared in the 20th century, but this is the most extensive suite of original plates we can locate in the auction records or in institutions. Bobins 30; see E. Sanchez, Ramon Torres Mendez, Pintor de la Nueva Granada, 1987.
Oblong folio (250 x 340mm). 36 hand-colored lithographed plates by A. Delarue (only, 4 plates near beginning with dampstain, a few others with marginal dampstain, some fingersoiling, tiny adhesions to pls. 20-21, 34). Original red half morocco, gilt title on cover, binder's ticket of Ricardo Saenz, Calle 10, [Bogotá?] (rebacked and plates re-hinged, minor rubbing and scuffs).