[PARIS]DELVAU, Alfred and BENASSIT, Louis Emile. Les Heures - Lot 43

[PARIS]DELVAU, Alfred and BENASSIT, Louis Emile. Les Heures Parisiennes. First edition containing a censored plate, beautifully bound. Paris, Librairie Centrale, 1866. 1 volume in-8, burgundy half-maroquin with corners, smooth spine decorated throughout with a mosaic pattern and central medallion bearing the coat of arms of the city of Paris, gilt headband, covers and spine preserved. Binding signed Durvand. 210 pages, 25 full-page etchings, including the frontispiece. Minor brown spots. First edition of this amusing description of Paris under the Second Empire by Alfred Delvau, illustrated with 25 etchings by Louis Emile Benassit (1833-1902). This first edition includes the plate entitled "Minuit", which was later censored. A fine copy in an elegant binding by Lucien Durvand (1852-1924), known as one of the finest bookbinders of his time.