Small folio (346 x 255mm). Contemporary morocco-backed blind stamped cloth, gilt lettered 'Album' in centre of upper board, and thus lettered on spine in the second compartment, other compartments with a repeat gilt design. Gilt edges. Expert repairs at head and tail of spine, re-cornered, extremities lightly rubbed. Some variable spotting affecting the plain plates more than the coloured ones. Some faint creasing to top corners. 12 lithographic plates coloured by hand and 4 plain plates, captions in English & French. With pink tissue guards. A rare and important suite of plates recording the peoples of Mauritius and their dress. Alfred Richard was a leading Mauritian artist of the mid-19th century. He depicted the multi-faceted nature of the population of Mauritius, with its descendants from French colonisers, Indian plantation workers and Chinese traders. Other subjects include the wife of a small business owner, a Muslim milk seller, a Parsi merchant, a Muslim barber, and a Persian groom. Coloured plates in order: TYPES DE L'ISLE MAURICE. 1. The Little Proprietor. 2. The Vagabond. 3.** The Hawker [and her porter.] 4. Indian labourer. 5. Musselman priest. 6. ** The Beggar. 7. ** [untitled.] 8. ** Young Creole maids. 9. Persian groom. 10. Parsee Merchant. 11. Constable. 12. The little proprietor's wife. 13. Malegassy drover. 14. Chinese trader. 15The musulman barber. 16. Musulman - Milk seller. ** denotes black & white illustration.