horse breeding in France in the mid-19th century

Impressive and uncommon work on French horse breeding at the beginning of Napoleon III's reign -the first edition well bound.
French studs, arranged by region, here described in great detail, illustrated by coloured maps and fine lithographs showing various breeds. Gayot (1808-91) was head of the stud section of the Agriculture and Commerce Ministry from 1847 until 1852 when he published the present work.

First edition. Large folio (61.5 x 44 cm). Title, [4] introduction, 27 hand-coloured engraved maps and 55 lithographs on india paper on 31 sheets, each map accompanied with printed leaves of text; bookseller's printed overslip ('Paris [...] Vve. Bouchard-Huzard') pasted onto date of title page, a few maps lightly browned, some spotting, mostly marginal. Contemporary green half morocco, gilt rules to covers, spine with raised bands gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers; neatly rebacked preserving spine, neat repairs to extremities.

Huth p.172.