G. Ducoudray - Histoire Contemporaine - 1864

A rare and complete historical set
You are facing one of the greatest rarities in the French antique market: the complete tripartite set of the foundational educational corpus of French school historiography from the 19th century. This work is much more than a set of three old books — it is a pedagogical monument from the Second Empire, officially approved by the Ministère de l’Instruction Publique and intended for the training of the French intellectual elite.

The three parts form an integrated curriculum.

First Part (1789-1815): The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Empire

Part Two (1815-1848): The Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy.

Part 3 (1848-1863): The Second Republic and the Second Empire

Each part is explicitly designated as 'Class of Philosophy'—an official mark confirming approval by the Ministry of Public Instruction.

The Author – Gustave Ducoudray (1838-1906)

Gustave Ducoudray was not merely a teacher.
He is a recognized prestigious historian.

Holder of the agrégation in history in 1862 – one of the highest French academic distinctions.
Alumnus of the École Normale Supérieure – a prestigious institution training the greatest French thinkers
Professor at ENS de Saint-Cloud – where he trained a generation of history teachers.
Jean-Jacques-Berger Prize of the Institut de France (1902) – a prestigious award for his History of the Parliament of Paris.

Remarkable state for its age

Authentic antique black Morocco leather binding.

Authentic vintage tanned leather (goat)
Uniform natural patina compatible with over 160 years of existence.
Visible and well-preserved nervures.
Complex door with elaborate patterns, largely preserved.
Authentic gold slices – original gold, manual XIXth-century technique.
Functional binding – opens and closes properly despite age.
Absence of abusive restoration – original binding preserved in its authenticity.

Authentic Marbled Coverings

Manual marbling – an artisanal technique exclusive to the 19th century.
Natural motifs with green, brown, beige, ochre shades.
Uniform wear compatible with 160 years of respectful handling.

Interior Pages

Uniform rust marks – natural oxidation of 19th-century paper (a sign of authenticity)
Clear and sharp typographic text – ink of excellently preserved quality.
Intact notebook structures – no pages detached or missing.
Readable and well-preserved title pages.
Visible printer's colophon: 'PARIS. – IMPRIMERIE GÉNÉRALE DE CH. LAHURE, Rue de Fleurus, 9'

Will be shipped securely, well packaged in shock-absorbing materials (reinforced bubble wrap + rigid cardboard).