The Illustrious Dr. Matheus and Popular Tales and Romances

Two scarce undated early editions bound together in this volume which were first issued as yellowbacks in 1872 and published using this volume’s imprint sometime between 1872 - 1878. The author’s name refers to a joint pseudonym of French authors Emile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian who published highly popular historical novels set during the Napoleonic era in the late 19th c. Beautifully bound small quarto in near very good dark blue calf over marbled boards and titled in gilt over tan ground to handsome gilt embossed spine. Corners just a little bumped; very minor scuffs to leather; gilt decoration worn to spine; marbled text block edges. Endpapers crisp and clean. Very sound and square. A mid 20th c ownership inscription reads Richard [Steppes] to front flyleaf. Pretty vignettes throughout text blocks which are clean and unmarked. The Illustrious Dr. Matheus 200 pp. Popular Tales and Romances 176 pp. Pretty vignettes to rectos of title pages and throughout both editions. A gorgeous little book. OCLC records only 4 copies of each edition in Universities worldwide,