Bertall - Les Communeux de Paris - 1871
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Les Communeux de Paris by Bertall is a hardback French illustrated history book, 1st edition published by Gottschalk in 1871, featuring 40 pages and 38 hand-colored plates.
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Description from the seller
Artistic and satirical album, "Les Communeux de Paris: Types, Physionomies, Caractères" by the famous French illustrator Bertall (Charles Albert d'Arnoux), published in London and Paris by Gottschalk as a prestigious second edition shortly after the events of 1871. This scarce volume represents a powerful visual testimony of the Paris Commune period, captured by the author as a direct eyewitness and journalist within the besieged city.
Designed as an exclusive, complete visual album containing no running text, except for the author's one-page preface (Avant-Propos). The volume features a total of 38 full-page hand-colored plates printed outside the text on thick paper as separate sheets. With an extraordinary eye for detail and irony, Bertall masterfully captured the real uniforms, costumes, and faces of prominent figures as well as regular barricade fighters, including General Bergeret, Police Prefect Raoul Rigault, combat cantoneers (cantinières), and the feared incendiary women (pétroleuses).
The volume is housed in its original publisher's all-cloth binding in a muted violet-purple color. The front cover features a prominent, large gilt circular medallion depicting a crown of thorns surrounding a burning Paris, along with elegant gilt title typography. In terms of preservation, the book is in very nice and structurally sound collector's condition. The cloth binding holds perfectly tight, showing only light patina, minor fading along the edges, and slight shelf wear at the spine ends. All 38 beautifully hand-colored plates are in very clean, vibrant condition, with only occasional light period foxing.
The book will be very carefully packaged and shipped promptly via a reliable international courier.
Seller's Story
We are a partnership of three established antiquarian bookshops in Prague: Antikvariát Radhošťská, Antikvariát Dlážděná, and Antikvariát Vltavín.
Together, we bring decades of experience in sourcing, researching, and handling rare books, prints, maps, manuscripts, graphic art, photographs, and other historical and collectible objects. Our material comes from private collections, family estates, libraries, and long-standing contacts throughout the Czech Republic and Central Europe.
We are particularly passionate about antiquarian and collectible books, fine prints, Prague-related material, art publications, bibliofilia, early editions, historical documents, and unique objects with cultural or historical significance. Alongside books, we regularly offer graphic art, old maps, posters, and carefully selected collectibles that we believe deserve an international audience.
Every lot is individually chosen for its quality, rarity, historical interest, or visual appeal. We strive to provide accurate descriptions, careful research, and secure professional packaging to ensure that each item reaches its new owner safely.
From the heart of Prague, we are delighted to share the rich cultural heritage of Central Europe with collectors around the world.
Artistic and satirical album, "Les Communeux de Paris: Types, Physionomies, Caractères" by the famous French illustrator Bertall (Charles Albert d'Arnoux), published in London and Paris by Gottschalk as a prestigious second edition shortly after the events of 1871. This scarce volume represents a powerful visual testimony of the Paris Commune period, captured by the author as a direct eyewitness and journalist within the besieged city.
Designed as an exclusive, complete visual album containing no running text, except for the author's one-page preface (Avant-Propos). The volume features a total of 38 full-page hand-colored plates printed outside the text on thick paper as separate sheets. With an extraordinary eye for detail and irony, Bertall masterfully captured the real uniforms, costumes, and faces of prominent figures as well as regular barricade fighters, including General Bergeret, Police Prefect Raoul Rigault, combat cantoneers (cantinières), and the feared incendiary women (pétroleuses).
The volume is housed in its original publisher's all-cloth binding in a muted violet-purple color. The front cover features a prominent, large gilt circular medallion depicting a crown of thorns surrounding a burning Paris, along with elegant gilt title typography. In terms of preservation, the book is in very nice and structurally sound collector's condition. The cloth binding holds perfectly tight, showing only light patina, minor fading along the edges, and slight shelf wear at the spine ends. All 38 beautifully hand-colored plates are in very clean, vibrant condition, with only occasional light period foxing.
The book will be very carefully packaged and shipped promptly via a reliable international courier.
Seller's Story
We are a partnership of three established antiquarian bookshops in Prague: Antikvariát Radhošťská, Antikvariát Dlážděná, and Antikvariát Vltavín.
Together, we bring decades of experience in sourcing, researching, and handling rare books, prints, maps, manuscripts, graphic art, photographs, and other historical and collectible objects. Our material comes from private collections, family estates, libraries, and long-standing contacts throughout the Czech Republic and Central Europe.
We are particularly passionate about antiquarian and collectible books, fine prints, Prague-related material, art publications, bibliofilia, early editions, historical documents, and unique objects with cultural or historical significance. Alongside books, we regularly offer graphic art, old maps, posters, and carefully selected collectibles that we believe deserve an international audience.
Every lot is individually chosen for its quality, rarity, historical interest, or visual appeal. We strive to provide accurate descriptions, careful research, and secure professional packaging to ensure that each item reaches its new owner safely.
From the heart of Prague, we are delighted to share the rich cultural heritage of Central Europe with collectors around the world.
Details
Number of books
1
Subject
History, Illustrated, Military, Politics
Book title
Les Communeux de Paris
Author/ Illustrator
Bertall
Condition
Good
Publication year oldest item
1871
Height
32 cm
Edition
1st Edition
Width
24.5 cm
Language
French
Original language
Yes
Publisher
Gottschalk
Binding/ Material
Hardback
Number of pages
40
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