MONNIER (Henry). Les Bas-fonds de la société. Paris : Jules Claye, 1862. - In-8, 242 x 159 : (4 ff.), 267 pp., (1 f.). Stiff vellum, double fillet in ink framing the boards, spine ribbed and decorated, untrimmed (period binding). Partly first edition, printed in only 200 copies on fine laid paper, of this work which the author presents as "a book of social medicine, [...] the speculum of the observer substituted for the speculum of the doctor". It contains the following 8 playlets, part of which appeared in the Scènes populaires: Un Agonisant. - The Consultation. - The Execution. - The French Church. - The Wife of the Condemned. - A la Belle Étoile. - A Night in a Booth. - Small Hidden Miseries. Copy in its original condition, as it was delivered to the subscriber. It has been enriched with an original drawing signed by Monnier in graphite representing a man sitting in profile, a small L.A.S. from the author, dated April 15, 1859 (label from the René Coursaget collection), and 2 engravings on china. Some scattered foxing. Attached, by the same author : - Scenes of the city and the country. Paris : Dumont, 1841. - In-8, 203 x 124 : 324 pp, 4 plates ; 364 pp, 4 plates. Brown half-chagrin, spine ribbed, spotted edges (Pouillet). First edition illustrated with 8 woodcut vignettes by Gérard after the author's drawings. It contains 7 playlets : Le Premier de l'an. - Le Déménagement. - The Weathervanes. - The Burial. - Interiors of the town hall. - The Country Party in the Kitchen. - Small town leisure. Spine faded. Scattered foxing. Restoration to the first leaves of the second volume, trace of wetness to the first two leaves in the same volume. Most of the vignettes have been re-engraved.