Affaire Lesnier. Sa vie, écrite par lui-même. Condamnation aux travaux forcés à perpétuité ; innocence reconnue après sept ans de détention aux bagnes de Rochefort et de Brest ; compte-rendu des poursuites contre Lespagne et autres nouveaux accusés

Rare first edition, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author, lithographed by Légé after J. Philippe.

Only three copies listed in the CCF (BnF, Pau, Toulouse).

Bound following the second part, which bears a different title: Cour d'assises de la Haute-Garonne. Affaire Lesnier. Deuxième partie, published in Bordeaux and Toulouse by Métreau and Delboy in 1855, 88 pp.

Some scattered foxing, mainly at the beginning and end of the volume.

Contemporary-style binding in chocolate-brown half shagreen, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns.

Only edition of this text documenting one of the most famous miscarriages of justice of the 19th century: Jean-François Lesnier (1823–1858), a schoolteacher, was sentenced in 1848 to penal servitude for the murder of Claude Gay, a septuagenarian from whom he had purchased a house in a life annuity arrangement. After serving seven years, Lesnier was retried and acquitted in 1855.