Voyage en France

First edition, illustrated with 4 hors-texte steel and heavy vellum engravings by Rouargue, a title vignette and in-text illustrations.
Publisher's binding in navy blue rice-grain percaline cloth. Spine decorated with a special plate featuring a boat, train, a seated walker with his bag and gilt and polychrome ornaments, signed Haarhaus. Large identical polychrome plate on both covers: at center, large bucolic scene with a traveler, a carriage and a city on the horizon, framing this scene a boat, a train, a coat of arms... Gilt edges. The 2 upper corners slightly folded, otherwise superb copy, beautifully fresh and without defect. Paper very white with occasionally some light foxing at the tissue guards protecting the engravings. On the half-title, gift inscription in blue ink covering half the page.
Pioneer work in the genre of geographical popularization of France. After a career as a poetess, Amable Tastu became a recognized pedagogue and her journey through France would see several reissues and enchant several generations. The narrative progresses by regions and peregrinations, cataloguing the cultural treasures contained in the cities and regions.