Pair Antique 1800 French Fashion Plates Debucourt Modes Manieres du Jour Framed For Sale

Pair Antique 1800 French Fashion Plates Debucourt Modes Manieres du Jour Framed
Up for sale is a rare, beautifully matched pair of genuine period-original hand-colored fashion engravings by the celebrated French printmaker Philibert-Louis Debucourt (1755–1832). These exceptional prints belong to his legendary suite titled "Modes et Manières du Jour à Paris" (Methods and Ways of the Day in Paris), published right at the turn of the century in 1800.
This pair offers an exquisite visual record of Parisian high society during the French Directoire and early Empire fashion eras.
Included Plates:
Plate N° 8 – "Les Cerises" (The Cherries)

• Inscribed: Fructidor An VIII (August/September 1800) | "(Coiffure en Cheveux et perles.)"
• Depicts an elegant lady in a high-waisted Empire gown reaching into a cherry tree, with a passing rustic figure in the background. Signed in the plate "Debucourt sc." at the lower right.

Plate N° 34 – "Il a plu." (It rained.)

• Inscribed: Therm[idor] An 8 (July/August 1800) | "(Chapeau à boucles.)"
• A romantic, narrative scene showing a stylish gentleman hidden in the brush kissing a young woman's hand following a rain shower. Signed in the plate "Debucourt sc." at the lower right.

Exceptional Provenance & Authentic Period Backing:The true highlight for advanced collectors is the untouched integrity of the frames. The reverse sides feature period-authentic 18th/19th-century French typographic scrap-paper dust seals—a traditional technique where contemporary printers recycled old ledger or book text sheets to seal frame backs. The frames also retain their matching antique paper gallery/estate inventory tags stamped 6056 and 6057 alongside handwritten graphite annotations. The backs remain completely undisturbed and have never been opened, guaranteeing their historical authenticity.
Framing: Housed in matching, highly attractive vintage/antique gilt-wood borders featuring hand-lined French watercolor mats.Ready to Display: Outfitted with early brass hanging loops on the reverse.
Condition Report:Excellent antique condition given their 220+ year age. The hand-applied watercolors remain remarkably crisp, bright, and vibrant. The sheets and surrounding mats display a wonderful, authentic patina with scattered light foxing (minor brown spots), age-toning, and faint water stains near the margins—all highly desirable traits that confirm their period antiquity. Gilt-wood frames show minor surface wear, light chipping, and age-cracking consistent with genuine antiques. Sold exactly as found. Please review all 13 high-resolution photos for close-up condition details.
Shipping & Handling:Due to the fragile glass and historical importance of these prints, they will be packaged with extreme care using professional grade bubble wrap, rigid heavy-duty cardboard padding, and a sturdy shipping box. Fully insured shipping with tracking will be provided.