Octavo. 162pp. Dumas the younger's exploration of the Parisian social underbelly and all its delights here receives at the half-title a watercolor by Frederic Bourdin showing two suitors vying for the affections of an ingénue. Bourdin completed similar projects for other contemporary works of belles-lettres, and the binder for this copy, Petrus Ruban, was given to the same habit. The result here is a rare collaboration between two journeymen book decorators at the service of the 19th-century vogue for gift books and luxury, hand-embellished copies. Bound in black morocco over boards with gilt rules to covers, bands, and edges, spine in six compartments with gilt titling and floral stamps, and elaborate gilt rolls to dentelles. Original wrappers bound in. Light rubs to corners, else near fine. A.e.g.