[Alexandre de SAILLET] Les Enfans peints par eux-mèmes [Paris, 1841. First Edition]

Les Enfans peints par eux-mèmes, Sujets de Composition donnés a ses élèves.

A fine illustrated picture book, with stories of children and their professions, written by the students of the author’s boarding school. There are a total of 21 stories, each decorated with a wood engraved headpiece, and one or two handcoloured full-page plates. An impressive document on child labour in the first half of the nineteenth century.

Paris: Desesserts, 1841. First edition. [iv], xv, [iii], 248, [ii] pp. The plates are all accompanied by an unnumbered sheet of text, and the titles of each story are unnumbered as well.
Illustrated with a lithographed frontispiece and 32 plates. All of the plates are handcoloured and finished with arabic gum (or albumen) for a gloss finish.
8vo. In contemporary half cloth over marbled boards, all edges marbled.

The half-title and title pages with restored tears and creasing. Scattered mild foxing throughout, and an occasional small marginal dampstain. Board edges and spine lightly worn.