Une ville flottante et Aventures de 3 Russes et de 3 Anglais

First collected illustrated edition, illustrated by Ferat, with engravings by Pannemaker and Hildibrand. The volume also includes Les Forceurs de blocus.

Publisher's binding known as "à l'obus" in a rare violet cloth, with the back cover in Lenègre type C. Spine faded, as is almost always the case with this particularly light-sensitive color. Strikingly fresh front cover. One corner slightly blunted, the others rubbed and a little turned in. Head- and tailpieces in good condition. Generally fresh paper, with some leaves showing spots of browning. All edges gilt, perfectly preserved.

A very good copy, clean and sound throughout.

Une ville flottante takes place aboard a gigantic ship — the Great Eastern — on a transatlantic voyage from Liverpool to New York, carrying several thousand passengers.
Les Aventures de 3 Russes et de 3 Anglais follows a team of scientists tasked with measuring a meridian arc, and addresses astronomy and abolitionism.

This binding — the very first illustrated example in a long series published between 1872 and 1874 — features in its decoration the cannon from De la terre à la lune, the Victoria from Cinq semaines en ballon, the prehistoric animals from Voyage au centre de la terre, Captain Grant observing two ships through a telescope, Captain Nemo's Nautilus, and the Great Eastern (named on the paddle wheel) from Une ville flottante.