DUPLESSIS-BERTAUX (Jean). Recueil de cent sujets de divers genres, dessinés et gravés à l'eau-forte. Paris : les éditeurs, 1814. - In-8 oblong, 193 x 244 : 14 pp. 100 plates. Long-grained black morocco, gilt garland and cold palmettes roulette framing the boards, smooth spine decorated throughout, gilt roulette inside, gilt edges, modern black cloth slipcase (E. Carayon). Collection of 100 delicate first-edition vignettes by designer and painter Jean Duplessis-Bertaux (1750-1819), one of the artist's finest productions, here in avant la lettre proofs on wove paper. This album opens with "historical notes on engraving, etching and the principal engravers in this genre", printed in French and English. It then consists of eight suites of picturesque engravings of urban and military life in the early 19th century, which had appeared in installments before being brought together under a general title. Each etching (approx. 105 x 82 mm) is printed on a large-margin sheet. The collection includes : - a medallion portrait of the artist and a vignette depicting an engraver's workshop (2 pl.) - suite of workers of different classes (12 pl.): stonemasons, masons, locksmiths installing the grating on the Tuileries terrace in 1807, etc. - suite de militaires de différentes armes (12 pl.): dragon de l'impératrice, grenadier de la Garde impériale, sapeur, etc. - suite d'artisans divers (12 pl.): cooper, carpenter, roofer, boilermaker, etc. - suite des cris des Marchands ambulants de paris (12 pl.): marchande de parapluies et de soufflets, cardeuse de matelas, marchand de melons, marchande de plaisirs, etc. - suite de sujets divers (12 pl.): parade de comédiens ambulants, noces de village, gendarmes, duel, etc. - suite de scènes de théâtre, depicting actors and actresses in famous roles (12 pl.): M. Grand-Ménal in L'Avare, Mlle Mézeray as Rosine, M. de Vigny and Mlle de Vienne in Tartuffe, M. Armand and Mlle Mars in La Jeunesse d'Henry V, M. Thénard as Sganarelle, etc. - suite of beggars (12 pl.) - suite de jeux et bateleurs (10 pl.): jeu de volant, l'arracheur de dents, l'escamoteur, etc.; military scenes and medallions (4 pl.). A superb copy bound by Carayon, from the library of the wealthy Nîmes bibliophile Maurice Méric. Mottling in the lower margin of the first few leaves, without affecting the engravings, scattered foxing. Provenance: Maurice Méric, with bookplate.