PLÉIADE (LA). Ballades, fabliaux, nouvelles et légendes. Paris, Curmer, 1842; small in-8, midnight blue long-grained morocco in the Romantic taste, gilt plate on the covers with scrolls, interlacing and thousand-point motifs, highly ornate ribbed spine, interior roulette, pink moire linings and endpapers, figure PV discreetly gilt in the linings, untrimmed, slipcase (Mercier Sccr de Cuzin). Complete collection of the 10 issues that make up the collection, based on texts by Gavarni, Dickens (translated by La Bédollière), etc. It is considered to be one of the models of Romantic achievement in terms of its themes and its exquisite engraved illustrations after Trimolet, Penguilly, Daubigny, etc. General frontispiece, 11 hors texte engravings, 52 woodcuts and 10 etching vignettes (printed on Chine appliqué) in the text, all in the first edition. An exceptional copy on China paper, with the exception of the title and faux-title pages. A few prints of the engravings before the letter are included. Letter from Léon Curmer to M. Desprez to send him the copy, which will be "in good hands". - Luxurious and perfect binding by Mercier. -Ex-libris: Pierre Villebeuf, Pierre Duché, Jacques Bastenet. Carteret, III, 499-502: "Illustrated work, one of the most important of the 19th century (...) A few copies were printed on China paper, which are very rare". Cat. Duché, 6 Nov. 1972, no. 107.