La grande ville. Nouveau tableau de Paris comique, critique et philosophique

First edition illustrated with wood engravings in text by Gavarni, Daumier, D'Aubigny... The second volume published in 1843 contains texts by Balzac, Alexandre Dumas, Soulié, Edouard Ourliac, Eugène de Mirecourt... 29 illustrations by Daumier signed in volume 1, 10 in volume 2. 17 plates in the second volume.
Contemporary half dark green sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with series of fillets. Blue cloth boards. Boards rubbed, corners slightly bumped. Scattered foxing.

Rare publication on the Paris of Louis-Philippe. The work proceeds by subject and articles: The wet nurses' bureau, flower sellers, baths, street lamps, sidewalks, theatre exits, beards and moustaches, the Luxembourg gardens, the Opera ball, auctioneers' hotel, lorettes and courtesans (Alexandre Dumas), restaurants and eating houses, pawnshop, Monographie de la presse parisienne (Balzac), Jockey-club, etc.
"A very important and remarkable work for the beautiful constellation of writers and artists of the Romantic period who collaborated on it." Carteret (Le trésor du bibliophile romantique et moderne).