Georges Cain - Paris historique et ses environs - 4 ouvrages illustrés, plans dépliants, reliures cuir dorées - - 1910-1910

A homogeneous ensemble of four works by Georges Cain (1853-1919), historian, writer, and conservator of the Carnavalet Museum and of the historical collections of the City of Paris.

These four volumes constitute a remarkable historical and artistic promenade through old Paris, its streets, its monuments, its disappeared neighborhoods, and its surroundings.

The four works:

1. Across Paris – A work embellished with 148 illustrations and 16 old and modern plans.
2. Surroundings of Paris – A work embellished with 123 illustrations and 3 old plans.
3. Along the streets – A work embellished with 132 illustrations and old and modern plans. Printed dedication to Jules Claretie, dated April 1912.
4. The Stones of Paris – A work embellished with 133 illustrations and 6 old and modern plans.

An especially richly illustrated set:

More than 530 illustrations announced in the works, accompanied by numerous plans, old views, engravings reproductions, monuments and historical documents, including several foldouts.

Bindings:

Four elegant, uniform brown leather bindings, spines adorned with rich gilt floral motifs, titles and the author’s name gilt, decorative borders and the City of Paris coat of arms. Gilt edges.

Condition:

Good overall apparent condition for these old volumes. Bindings well preserved, with some rubbing and signs of wear. Interiors generally clean, with some signs of aging and scattered foxing. Fold-out plans present on the copies photographed.

Bibliophilic interest:

An especially decorative and documentary set, devoted to the history and transformation of Paris. These four complementary volumes bring together a significant iconography and testify to Paris in the Belle Époque.