Abel HUGO

First edition, 470 engraved plates including 363 views and portraits, 94 departmental maps, 8 city plans, one table as well as 3 folding maps of France... and most importantly, the 1834 Paris map by Monin, almost always missing, in volume 3.
Contemporary half-blonde calf bindings. Smooth spine decorated with series of fillets, tail roll. Black calf title and volume labels. Surface abrasions on the spines. Head caps of volumes 2 and 3 partially slightly worn. A few rare and pale scattered foxing marks, on an otherwise clean and fresh set.
While this history of France remains interesting to read (it teems with curious anecdotes and erudition, and Hugo was a skillful compiler), it is much more interesting from a geographical standpoint (human and physical) and provides a proper panorama of France in 1834, with numerous statistics. The work possesses above all a rich iconography, notably of all the monuments of France, even those that have disappeared such as the château de Richelieu. Furthermore, the last volume concludes with the description of the state of Algiers, Senegal, Île Bourbon, the French colonies in India, the French Antilles, Guyana, Madagascar.

First edition, illustrated with 424 plates (and more than 700 figures) of monuments, costumes, historical scenes, maps... The last volume, on contemporary history, added later, ends in 1842.
Contemporary half cherry red glazed calf. Smooth spine decorated with rococo tools and a central bird tool. Some rubbing. Overall relatively clean and fresh with occasional light foxing on the first 3 volumes, the last two with scattered foxing and yellowed signatures, with some browning at the end of volume 5. In volume 3 from p.91 to 96, brown dampstain at lower corner. Handsome copy, rare in this condition. Armorial bookplate heightened in colors of Paul-Emile Cadilhac, man of letters, editor at L'Illustration, notably for "Demeures et sites romanesques".
While this history of France remains interesting to read (it is full of curious anecdotes and erudition, and Hugo was a skillful compiler), it is much more interesting from a geographical point of view (human and physical) and gives a proper panorama of France in 1834, with numerous statistics. The work possesses above all very rich iconography, notably of all the monuments of France, even those that have disappeared such as the château de Richelieu or the abbey of Cluny...

First edition illustrated with 471 engravings, including 4 folding plates. Binding signed by Desloge.
Contemporary half blue calf bindings, smooth spines decorated with gilt dentelle, roulettes and fillets, publisher's signature at foot of first volume, marbled paper boards.
Some corners slightly bumped, headcaps rubbed, occasional foxing.