Jules Verne - Jules Verne – Le Chemin de France suivi de Gil Braltar – Premier tirage - 1887

Jules Verne
Le Chemin de France, followed by Gil Braltar
Paris, Bibliothèque d'Éducation et de Récréation, J. Hetzel et Cie, 1887.

First illustrated edition in large octavo and first printing, illustrated by George Roux with 41 drawings and 2 maps. The original illustrated edition is well listed in 1887. Original Edition

A particularly interesting copy kept in its red Hetzel publisher's binding, known as the “initials J.V. and J.H.” binding, one of the emblematic bindings in the Voyages extraordinaires collection.
The front cover, richly decorated in black and gold, presents three medallions: the initials J.V. for Jules Verne in the upper medallion, the title Le Chemin de France illustrated at the center, and the initials J.H. for Jules Hetzel in the lower medallion.

Important bibliographic item: DS catalogue
The copy retains at the end the general DS catalogue of the Magasin d'Éducation et de Récréation, a particularly useful element for identifying the print run.

This configuration is documented for the first printing of Le Chemin de France. A copy sold at public sale with the same red binding and the DS catalogue is explicitly described as “Single volume, first printing.”

Illustration
The work contains the illustrations by George Roux, including the frontispiece title of the Hetzel Collection, the plates and the illustrations integrated into the text.
The title page states:
“Le Chemin de France by Jules Verne, followed by Gil Braltar – 41 drawings by Roux and 2 maps.”
Pagination: [4] + 220 pages, followed by the Hetzel catalogue. This collation corresponds to the first-printing copies listed.

Condition
Lovely copy in its original red binding.
The front cover retains a strong color, with a sharp black decoration and still-present gilding. Some rubbing, small marks and wear to the binding are visible.
Spine notably worn and discolored, with significant loss of gilding, wear to the headcaps and small nicks, particularly at the upper headcap. This gilding deterioration phenomenon is frequently observed on the “initials” bindings from this period. Original Edition
Second cover in red with black decoration, showing minor marks, rubbing and usage-soiling.
Interior complete and well preserved. Foxing and pinholeing present, sometimes quite marked, in keeping with the photographs. Illustrations well preserved and fully legible.
The precious DS catalogue is present at the end.

Copy showing the normal signs of a work aged nearly 140 years. The many photographs are an integral part of the description of the condition.
Bibliographic characteristics
Author: Jules Verne
Title: Le Chemin de France followed by Gil Braltar
Illustrator: George Roux
Publisher: J. Hetzel et Cie
Place: Paris
Date: 1887
Series: The Voyages Extraordinaires
Edition: first illustrated edition in large octavo
Printing: first printing
Illustrations: 41 drawings by George Roux and 2 maps
Pagination: [4] + 220 pages + Hetzel catalogue
Catalogue: DS
Binding: red publisher’s binding with the initials “J.V. and J.H.”
Binder: Charles Magnier
Format: large octavo
Language: French
Condition: good overall, with foxing, spine wear and binding wear described above.