Bidspirit auction | Mariana Alcoforado

Mariana Alcoforado - Cartas de Amor de Soror Mariana - Mariana Alcoforado, 1925. Published in 1925 in Lisbon by Livraria J. Rodrigues & C.ª. This is the celebrated and passionate 17th-century love correspondence of Sister Mariana Alcoforado (of the Convent of the Conception in Beja) addressed to the Frenchman Chevalier de Chamilly (Noël Bouton), with the acclaimed translation by Luciano Cordeiro. A highly unusual edition with great graphic detail, enriched with exquisite illustrations by Alberto Souza, including the famous separate polychrome portraits of Sister Mariana and the Marquis of Chamilly, as well as a watercolor reproducing the Cloister of the Convent of the Conception in Beja (dated 1923 in the drawing). A copy with very generous margins, enhanced by an elegant period half-leather binding with corners, plates covered in marbled paper, spine with gilt titles and floral motifs, showing occasional marginal acidity stains typical of period paper. Very good condition.