BOURASSÉ (Jean-Jacques). La Touraine. History and monuments. Tours : Ad Mame et Cie, 1855. - In-folio, 405 x 280 : frontispiece, (2 ff.), 610 pp, (1 f.), 17 plates, 1 map. Red morocco, boards decorated with a large frame composed of gilt fillets, a cold roulette and gilt fleurons at the corners, surrounding in the centre a rhombus-shaped cold rocaille plate, each side bordered by a gilt fillet and a small gilt fleuron at the corners, spine decorated, framed with red morocco inside, decorated with a large gilt roulette with a palmette motif, untrimmed (period binding). First edition of this collective work published under the direction of the professor and churchman Jean-Jacques Bourassé (1813-1872). It is one of the most beautiful works that have been done on Touraine. Beginning with a historical introduction, it includes 47 chapters reviewing the history, geography, geology, monuments, etc. of this region. But it is characterized by its rich illustration composed of 18 plates including 4 chromolithographs and 15 intaglio engravings after Karl Girardet and Louis Français, as well as more than 270 woodcut vignettes after essentially these two same artists. There is also an intaglio map outside the text, 8 woodcut maps, plans and diagrams in the text and nearly a hundred reproductions of ancient coins. A very fine copy in contemporary morocco. Rubbing from use on the headpieces, hinges and edges of the boards. Corners slightly dulled. A few scattered foxing without seriousness.