Les Métamorphoses du Jour.

1854. GRANDVILLE, J.J. Les Métamorphoses du Jour. [4], xxviii, 283 pp., with 70 hand-coloured wood engravings after designs by Grandville. Large 8vo, 262 x 163 mm., bound in publisher's illustrated polychrome boards. Paris: Havard, 1854. First edition in book form, comprised of 67 designs from the excessively rare 1829 suite, 2 lithographs from La Silhouette and 1 woodcut from the Musée Philipon. The Métamorphoses du Jour was the work which established Grandville's reputation as a brilliant satirical critic of social manners, institutions and prejudices. "Throughout the series Grandville's choice of beastheads is inspired, and the force of his conceptions and the wit of his captions rarely falter. Occasionally he produces a design of universal application that calls Goya to mind" (Ray). Charles Blanc described the Métamorphoses du Jour as "the most original and most remarkable series in Grandville's oeuvre." The text for this edition was contributed by Alberic Second, Louis Lurine, Clément Caraguel, Taxile Delord, and others. In fine condition, with the binding exceptionally fresh, but with some insignificant spotting or foxing throughout, not affecting the plates. An exceptionally clean copy in the rare polychrome binding. Carteret III, 282. Brivois 179. Ray, French 132 (1829 suite). Rebeyrat p. 288.