L'Algérie. Organisation politique et administrative. - Justice. - Sécurité. - Instruction publique. - Travaux publics. - Colonisation française et européenne. - Agriculture et forêts. - Propriété et état-civil chez les indigènes. Voyage de la délégation de la Commission sénatoriale d'études des questions algériennes présidée par Jules Ferry. Préface par E. Combes. Avec carte indiquant l'itinéraire de la délégation et le programme de la colonisation de 1891 à 1895

First edition, illustrated with a large folding colour map printed out of text (cf. Tailliart 2645).

Bradel binding in half blue percaline, the smooth spine slightly sunned, the brown skiver lettering-piece lightly rubbed, marbled-paper boards, blue endpapers and pastedowns showing a few small spots, corners softened, top edge sprinkled.

A few light spots.

The only edition of this comprehensive survey of the state of Algeria, published after the death of Jules Ferry (17 March 1893), the driving force behind the senatorial commission that had commissioned the work. It serves as a reminder that Ferry was a staunch advocate of France’s colonial expansion and of the mission to “civilise” indigenous peoples, a view then broadly shared across the political left, with the exception of a few dissenting voices (including Clemenceau).

On the half-title, presentation inscription by Henri Pensa to Madame Jules Ferry (Eugénie Risler).

The volume later entered the library of Ferry’s nephew, Abel Ferry (1881–1918, member of parliament for the Vosges from 1909), with his ink stamps on the title-page and at the foot of p. 105.