Physiologie du gamin de Paris, galopin industriel

Paris, 1842. FIRST EDITION. Wood engravings throughout. Original printed yellow wrappers bound into later half sheep over marbled boards. In excellent condition. First edition, a satirical typology of Parisian street urchin children. Describing these kids from the time of birth through their teen years, the author points out their shenanigans, disrespectful attitudes, tattered clothes, and tendencies towards crime and revolution. He suggests putting them to work in shops and factories to fill their time, a concept that he notes has been successful in other cities such as London. The penultimate chapter is a short burlesque play about street children.