Three vols. tall 8vo., publisher's black grained cloth with blind decorative borders and elaborate mosaic gilt stamped designs in the center of both covers; spines elaborately gilt decorated and titled; a.e.g. One volume with wear to the front joint, the others well preserved. There is an engraved full-page portrait of P. J. de Bérenger added at the front of Vol. I and a two-page ALS by him added to the front of Vol. II. Bérenger was in his lifetime considered the national poet of France who owed his lifelong popularity to his light-hearted verses, some of which are included in this collection.Originally published in 1842-43 by H. Delloye in parts (each part consists of four engraved plates of text and illustrations with accompanying printed pages of commentary and music), it is generally regarded as one of the finest illustrated books of the Romantic period and is often compared with the masterpieces of 18th century book illustration. Gordon Ray devotes several pages to it, reproducing four illustrations (two, full page), one of which is by Daubigny, "Indeed, those of which he himself engraved have a high rank as original prints." Ray goes on to add that copies in their original part-wrappers are very rare (the Otto Schäfer copy sold at Sotheby's 27 July 95 for £5,800.), and that copies in the publisher's cartonnage in fine state have become scarce, "...and prices for them have soared." Ours is an attractive copy and offers the added Bérenger material described above.See: Ray, Gordon. The Art of the French Illustrated Book: 1700-1914. pp. 249-50; 314-15.