Copy of Henri Beraldi - Lot 368

Copy of Henri Beraldi TAINE (Hippolyte Adolphe) Voyage aux Eaux des Pyrénées illustrated with 65 woodcut vignettes by G. DORE. Paris, Hachette, 1855. In-12; numerous illustrations in the text, including 27 full-page. Printed on strong paper, untrimmed copy. ½ red filleted morocco with corners signed CANAPE, ornate ribbed spine, quadruple gilt fillet between boxes, publisher's cover preserved, gilt head. A fine copy. First edition and first printing of the illustrations. This edition is constructed like the "guides to the Pyrenees" of the period, with various borrowings from historians, mountaineers (Ramond, Tchihatcheff) and others. It has to be said that Taine was paid to write a "Guide to the waters of the Pyrenees" for Hachette and, at the same time, to treat his granular laryngitis, which he didn't know how to get rid of. These observations date from August 1854, and the publication from April 1855. That same year, 1855, he set off again for the Pyrenees, and in 1856, visited new regions. He completed his work, lightening it with various quotations and borrowings, and published a new edition in 1858 under the definitive title of "Voyage aux Pyrénées". Fourcassié paints an interesting portrait of this great writer. Hachette's determination to flood the market with this publication has somewhat "drowned" the interest of this work (Labarère 1566)(Beraldi II 148-150)(Perret 4177). Provenance: Henri Beraldi's yellow bookplate.