Learning to Draw: Or, The Story of a Young Designer
Language: English
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1881
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Christine's Cabinet, Providence, RI, U.S.A.Christine's Cabinet
AbeBooks seller since June 23, 2026
Condition: Used - Good
£ 84.49
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
This is the first American edition of Viollet-le-Duc's fictionalized account of a young student's artistic training, translated from the French by Virginia Champlin and illustrated throughout by the author himself, published in New York by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1881. The story follows two foster-brothers, André and Jean, as one is guided through drawing, geometry, comparative anatomy, and architectural history by the tutor M. Majorin — a narrative Viollet-le-Duc drew directly from his own life, with the Italian travel chapters mirroring his own 1836-37 journey. The original French edition, Histoire d'un dessinateur, was among the last books he completed before his death, and the preface notes it was published posthumously. The original brown cloth binding shows notable wear consistent with age and prior circulation: the spine cloth is chipped and frayed at the head and tail, with some loss of cloth at the top edge, and the boards show general rubbing and soiling. The front board interior carries a strip of old tape repair with visible adhesive residue and a faint ghost mark from a removed label. The book carries an institutional provenance: a Public Circulating Library ink stamp appears on the title page and at the opening of Chapter I, and several pencil inventory numbers from at least two prior booksellers are present on the preliminary leaves. Loosely laid in is an unrelated 1979 invoice from Bradford Books of Bennington, Vermont, an interesting piece of New England book-trade ephemera though not specific provenance for this copy. Despite the binding wear, the text block itself is clean, complete, and tightly bound, with all of the author's wood-engraved illustrations present and sharp throughout, including studies in comparative anatomy, architectural details from Pompeii, ancient bronze furniture, and facial-angle studies. This is a scarce translation — no other copies of this specific first American edition currently appear for sale on the major rare book marketplaces, and the Internet Archive's digitized copy confirms the edition but does not diminish demand for the physical original. Interest in Viollet-le-Duc has been freshly renewed by "Viollet-le-Duc: Drawing Worlds," the first major U.S. exhibition devoted to the architect, held at the Bard Graduate Center in New York (January-May 2026) and covered extensively in the Wall Street Journal, Apollo, Architectural Record, and The Art Newspaper, much of it tied to his role in the recent restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris. This is a fitting copy for collectors of design-education history, architectural theory, and nineteenth-century illustrated instructional books, priced to reflect its genuine scarcity alongside its condition issues.…
Seller Inventory # ABE-1782920664366
Bibliographic details
- Title
- Learning to Draw: Or, The Story of a Young Designer
- Author
- Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène
- Publisher
- G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York
- Publication year
- 1881
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- Illustrator
- Viollet-le-Duc
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Printing
- 1st Printing
- Seller catalogs
- 19th-Century Decorative Arts & Design
Christine's Cabinet
Providence, RI, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since June 23, 2026
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 3 to 5 business days | 5 to 14 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 0.00 |
Payment methods
Store description
Christine's Cabinet is an independent antiquarian bookshop specializing in illustrated first editions, fine bindings, and Victorian & Edwardian literature with documented provenance. Run by a single bookseller with 12+ years in book arts, printmaking, and book repair — currently teaching bookbinding at RISD Continuing Education, joining the Providence Art Club as an instructor this fall, 2026.
Specialty
Victorian & Edwardian Literature — first editions, illustrated editions, decorative bindings Fine Bindings & Design — Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts movement, elaborate gilt work Illustrated & Decorative Books — hand-colored plates, wood engravings, premium production values Literary Classics — canonical works in original cloth, presentation copies, period editions Natural History & Scientific WorksSeller's business information
RI, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
Christine's Cabinet is an independently operated antiquarian bookselling business based in Providence, Rhode Island, registered as a single-member LLC. Every book offered for sale has been personally examined, assessed, and photographed by the bookseller directly, drawing on more than twelve years of experience in book arts, fine printing, printmaking, and book repair. Condition is graded honestly and specifically using the standard terms Good, Very Good, and Near Fine, with any defects, repairs, restorations, or notable wear disclosed in the item description rather than glossed over. Editions, printings, and points of issue are verified to the best of the bookseller's knowledge and ability before a book is listed, and any uncertainty in dating, edition status, or attribution is noted plainly in the description itself. Prices are set using confirmed comparable sales and market data rather than optimistic estimates, reflecting a considered assessment of each book's condition, rarity, and desirability at the time of listing.
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Returns are handled in accordance with AbeBooks' Return Policy. Buyers are encouraged to review photographs and condition notes carefully and to reach out with any questions before completing a purchase, so that every transaction begins with a clear and accurate understanding of the item. Christine's Cabinet stands behind the accuracy of every description and is committed to representing each book honestly, so that collectors and readers alike can buy with confidence.
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If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
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Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
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If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Christine's Cabinet, 130 Cypress St., APT R1, 02906, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
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The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
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All domestic orders within the United States ship via USPS Priority Mail at no additional cost, with shipping built into the listed price of each item. International orders ship via USPS International, with a standard shipping rate of $36.00 or Priority International service available for $46.00; buyers may select their preferred service at checkout where offered. Books are typically processed and shipped within 48 hours of payment, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Every item is packed individually according to its age, binding, and fragility, using materials appropriate to protect the book through transit, including rigid mailers or boxing for larger or more delicate volumes. Tracking information is provided for all orders.
For orders shipped to the European Union valued at €150 or less, applicable VAT is collected at checkout and duties are handled on a Delivered Duty Paid basis; buyers will not be charged additional customs duties upon delivery for these orders. For orders shipped to the European Union valued above €150, and for shipments to other international destinations generally, any customs duties, import taxes, or fees assessed upon arrival are the responsibility of the buyer and are separate from the shipping cost shown at checkout. Please allow additional time for delivery on international orders, as transit times vary by destination and customs processing.