Fin de siècle & Belle Époque: history from 1870 to 1914, industrialization, colonial expansion and early 20th century society

First edition abundantly illustrated with wood engravings in text and plates.

Publisher's gilt red percale beveled binding signed Engel at tail. Smooth spine richly decorated with various ornaments inlaid in black. Large special plate with the arms of the city of Paris framed by 2 nude victories, 2 medals. Wide frieze of Greek keys and decorative border. Second board with succession of black frames. Brown endpapers. Gilt edges. Rubbing to headcaps, corners. Scattered foxing.
Handsome copy, quite solid and uniform, with sharp gilding.
Beyond the classic presentation of the exhibition, with its pavilions and the "wonders" of the Trocadero, this publication includes important chapters devoted to machines, mines, metallurgy, mechanics, railways and gas, but also lace, furniture, goldsmith's work, bronze, porcelain, and all the decorative arts.

First edition, an ordinary paper copy.
Contemporary green half shagreen, marbled paper boards, spine with five raised bands and gilt flowers, speckled edges.
With the autograph signatures of every author of the "Médan group" involved in the writing of this famous collection of short stories: Guy de Maupassant, Emile Zola, Joris-Karl Huysmans, Léon Hennique, Paul Alexis and Henri Céard on the first endpaper.
A very good and rare copy in a strictly contemporary binding.

First edition.
Contemporary red cloth Bradel binding by Pierson, spine with gilt floral motif, date and double gilt fillet to foot, black shagreen title label.
A little light spotting, principally affecting the first and final few leaves.
Ex libris of Adolphe Racot on inside upper cover.
Concerning Victor Hugo, Alfred de Musset, George Sand, François-René de Chateaubriand, Théophile Gautier, Alexandre Dumas fils, and so on…

Autograph inscription from Emile Zola to Adolphe Racot.