89 B a u m a n R a r e B o o k s “The Greatest Visual Expression Of The Social Class Struggle Ever Published”: With 174 Wood-Engravings By Gustave Doré 116. (LONDON) DORÉ, Gustave and ENAULT, Louis. Londres. Paris, 1876. Large folio, publisher’s half red pebbled morocco gilt. $4200. First French edition of Doré’s London, “superb, and noble in sentiment” (van Gogh), with 174 striking full-page and in-text wood-engraved illustrations of “all segments of London society” by Doré. “By 1872, Doré was the most popular artist in England, illustrator or painter. This work was eagerly awaited by the English public, having been postponed by the Franco-Prussian War… The idea was to match Doré’s artistic genius with an in-depth view of all segments of London society… Many were the days and nights that Doré went in disguise, with undercover policemen for protection, to see parts of London not listed in any tour guide… The result was a book often hailed as the greatest visual expression of the social class struggle ever published” (Malan, 127). Vincent van Gogh wrote: “I saw a complete set of Doré’s pictures of London. I tell you it is superb, and noble in sentiment.” Malan, 281. Only very infrequent light foxing; corners gently bumped, front joint lightly rubbed at spine ends but quite sound, cloth clean, gilt bright. A near-fine copy of this splendid folio. “One Of The Great Books Of American Illustrations”: With 49 Engraved Folio Plates 115. BRYANT, William Cullen, editor. Picturesque America; Or, The Land We Live In. New York, 1872-74. Two volumes. Thick folio, original full brown morocco gilt. $2500. Second edition of this treasury of 19th-century American views, illustrated with 49 full-page steelengraved plates, including title pages and frontispiece engraving of Niagara Falls, together with numerous intext wood engravings, in handsome publisher’s deluxe morocco-gilt bindings. “One of the great books of American illustrations… The best landscapes engraved in this country are to be found here” (Hamilton, 216). The text was actually written by Oliver B. Bunce, whose phraseology was then edited by Bryant. Second edition (according to BAL), with Bryant’s name appearing on both the title page of Volume I and the preface. BAL 1732. Sabin 62692. Owner signature. Pencil inscription to letterpress title page of Volume I. Interiors quite clean, just a touch of rubbing to extremities, fine condition. Handsome and desirable in the publisher’s morocco.
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