Text in French. (400) pp Large quarto with 45 superb steel-engraved, hand-coloured plates of French costume, with ladies & children in many illustrations. Some uncoloured wood-engraved text illustrations. Also some uncoloured & folding plates. Ornately gilt decorated in 1/4 blue morocco over marbled papered boards. Gilt to spine, minor wear to boards and spine, in fair condition. [Volume 20 in the series] Coloured plates in order: 1. Pair of ladies in attractive gowns of pink and white, alone with a young boy in a black velvet jacket and knee-breeches. 2. Two older girls, a younger girl in a pretty pink dress, a small boy with a wreath of grapes in his hair, and an animal skin draped across his shoulder. 3. Two young ladies, one reading a book, her companion, about to put on a scarlet jacket. 4. Two ladies; one admires a black lace bonnet and ribbon; the other fiddles with a blue bow tied at her throat. 5. Two ladies entertain a small girl with a doll suspended by a string. 6. Two young ladies in their most delicate ball gowns of green and pink, respectively. 7. Lady in a stunning purple gown with a cream trim; her companion in a grey/blue gown with a coloured belt and ribbon. 8. Montage of ladies' fashion accessories. 9. Young lady in a vivid blue and white gown looks on as a young girl recites from a pamphlet. A companion is seen in a brown dress with a black mantelet. 10. Ladies in delicate evening gowns; one pure white, with golden stars; the other in pink and white, with tassels. 11. Ladies in a piano room; one plays the piano while her friend reads from some sheet music behind her. 12. A lady in a dress of red, with a black lace mantelet; her companion in a black dress and jacket, with bold, orange buttons. 13. Young lady in bridal wear, behind her, her mother holds her younger sibling up to place money in a collection bowl. 14. A group of young children playing in a room, watched over carefully by an elderly nanny. 15. Lady in an emerald green dress with a large waist bow; her companion is seen in a pale pink dress with black lace. 16. A lady half kneels on a chair in a grey coloured house dress as she looks at her friend who has arrived in a dark grey dress, with a mauve bonnet and bow, holding a parasol. 17. Two ladies on a terrace. One wears a flowing dress of light blue, with a beige overlay; her companion is in a light brown dress with a scarlet jacket, edged in green. 18. A young lady reads from a novel as her friend listens intently beside her. 19. Two young ladies cross a small wooden footbridge; one dressed in blue; her friend in brown. 20. A young lady, in a pretty beige coloured dress, holds onto a small girl, standing on a step; a lady companion beside her stares into the distance in a grey/blue dress edged in black lace. 21. A montage of ladies' fashion accessories. 22. Ladies walking around the grounds of an Exhibition. One dressed in beige, with orange decoration; her friend in a pale grey dress, with black trim. 23. Two ladies out walking; one in a dress of grey, with mauve edging; her friend in a dress of blue, with a terracotta coloured overlay. 24. Two young ladies are accompanied by a small boy with a stick and hoop. 25. Two ladies in their finery. One in a strapless gown of pure white, with red and black horizontal trim, together with a large decorated black bow. Her companion is seen in a grey dress with subtle light blue trim. 26. Lady in a stunning turquoise dress, with a white lace bodice; her friend in a beige dress with red trim. 27. A young lady in a pretty dress holds a dove on the fingers of her outstretched right hand, while her companion watches on whilst holding the hand of a fascinated young girl. 28. A lady is sitting 'side saddle' on her horse in full riding attire; her friend stands at her side in a pretty dress of cream with black and white trim. 29. Two young ladies at a ball, dressed in all their finery. 30. A pair of young ladies converse out on a walk, both in pretty dresses, bonnets, and parasol. 31. A young girl tries to catch insects in a net, watched by two (older) young ladies, who are locked in conversation. 32. Two ladies at the windy seaside. 33. Two young ladies walk in a garden; one in a dress of off-white, with a pale mauve trim; the other in a green dress, with a black jacket. 34. Two ladies stop and admire a rural view; one is in a dress of pale blue, with matching buttons; her companion in a cream coloured dress with a vividly coloured bow tied at her waist. 35. A young lady offers a confection to a small girl while her companion looks on. 36. A montage of ladies' fashion accessories. 37. Two ladies on a beach. One is dressed in a pale blue dress with darker blue trim. She appears to 'stab' at a passing crab - her friend, in a vivid green dress, looks on in detached amusement. 38. Younger children at play, some ride in a small carriage, pulled by a pair of kid goats. 39. A lady in a purple dress with black lace trim is seated while looking at her youngest sibling enter the room. Another sister looks on in a dark coloured dress with a turquoise edge. 40. Two ladies watch a departing Hunt. 41. A pair of young ladies are about to embark into a Railway carriage. 42. Two older sisters attend to their younger siblings' head ware. 43. A young lady ties a bow at her throat, watched by a friend. 44. A young lady in a purple coloured dress, with a simple black trim, reads some correspondence, watched by her companion in a pale grey dress with matching trim and buttons. 45. Two ladies take tea. One is in a thick dark green dress, with matching overlay; her friend, who pours the tea, is seen in a dress of pale grey, with a large patterned lace bow tied at the waist.