XIXe siècle. Classe - Moeurs - Usages. Costumes - Inventions

First edition. Illustrated with a chromotypographic frontispiece, 16 hand-colored pattern plates, 36 ornamental headpieces and letters, and 487 engravings (24 of which printed separately from text). Printed on large glazed white vellum paper.
Publisher's half red shagreen binding by Engel. Smooth spine decorated with a large ornamental floral plate, red shagreen title label. Large special plate on covers signed Giraldon with a central eagle, two roosters... Edges gilt. Some scattered foxing mainly in margins. Slight dampstain under the eagle, otherwise a very handsome copy.
Good copy.
Classic work attempting to capture through history, politics, costumes and customs, the spirit of the 19th century.