Paris: Charles Chevalier, 1854. First edition. 16mo., 88 pp. Original printed paper wrappers; lacking the spine covering, with some chipping and staining. The text shows some staining and occasional spots of foxing, with one loose signature. Contemporary note on the blank terminal endpaper. A good copy. Housed in a newly made pamphlet box of paper over boards with printed labels. Item #52484

Julien Fau, a doctor of medicine in Paris, was a noted anatomist; in 1845, he published the first of two works for artists with 24 beautifully rendered lithographic plates: Anatomie des formes exterieures du corps humain, a l'usage des peintres et des sculpteurs, a highly regarded work which is still available in a reprint with a translation of the text in English. I can find nothing on Dr. Fau's conversion to the photographic arts, and can only assume that he found rendering the human form through its agencies more in keeping with his scientific predilections.

DOUZE LEÇONS DE PHOTOGRAPHIE... Dr Fau's short but concise manual is an early work on the collodion process.

WorldCat locates only ten copies, with Eastman House, New York Public Library and Dartmouth College being the only American holdings; we know that Harvard also has a copy, having acquired it from us in 2002. Roosens and Salu No. 6522. This title escaped the attention of Bellier de la Chavignerie, in his Manuel Bibliographie du Photographe Francais, 1863, the first bibliography of French photographic books. A rare publication.

Price: $1,650.00