Simples Histoires, trouvees dans un pot au lait. 8 Volumes

Paris: Lefuel, 1825. First Edition, eight volumes each with one engraving PRINTED IN COLOR, heightened by hand, original white wrappers printed with color lithographs housed in original double-compartment box with lithograph printed in color on cover (lid), gold foil which is stamped bordering edge of box, original pink and blue ribbon pulls. Page size: 6 x 4". The eight volumes are titled: The Little Milkmaid, The Little Schoolgirl, The Little Flower Seller, The Little Harvester, The Little Savoyard, The Little Shepherd, The Little Boatman, and The Little Firewood Gatherer (5 girls and 3 boys). Each volume has an engraving printed in color of a child dressed in the manner suiting the occupation in the title. The neo-classic colored bordered lithographs on the covers of each title have elements of the occupation included, such as flowers in La Petite Marchande des Fleurs and fish, seashells, and seaweed in The Little Boatman. The text of this charming children's set is titled Simple Stories, and they are just that, clearly meant for young readers. This is an extraordinarily fine set of this early French children's title. Gumuchian listed it at 3000FF and pictured it twice. The color printing is of a very high quality and unusual for this period. The box and books have an immediately discernable freshness and charm heightened by the fine condition. It is very rare to find all eight parts of this set in fine condition, not to mention the original box. Gumuchian 916.