Maurice Alhoy; illustrations attribuées - Les Bagnes...

Original edition and first printing of the illustrations for this important work by Maurice Alhoy dedicated to the world of the French penal colonies in the 19th century. Paris, Gustave Havard, Dutertre and Michel Lévy frères, 1845. A large volume illustrated with numerous wood engravings in the text and 30 hors-texte plates, all present, notably after Bertall, Rudder, Janet-Lange, Jules Noël and other artists. The 30 plates have been checked: all present, including the 4 colored plates. This composition of 30 hors-texte plates with 4 in color corresponds to that described for the first edition. IV + 476 pages. Beautiful old binding in half-leather, spine richly ornamented with motifs and gilded fillets, title piece, marbled boards and endpapers. The interior shows foxing, more pronounced on several gatherings toward pages 400 to 440, where the paper is also noticeably browned. This phenomenon is also described on another copy of this edition, with browning specifically noted pages 401 to 440. To note: absence of the prospectus for Les Prisons de Paris, corresponding to pages 469 to 472. This prospectus is frequently missing in copies encountered; sale catalogs explicitly note this same absence. Despite these flaws, an interesting and well-preserved copy with its 30 hors-texte plates, including the 4 colored, and with a particularly decorative binding. The photographs are an integral part of the description.

Estimate:£126.72

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