Catalogue général de la bibliothèque de la ville de falaise

[Falaise]: [Imprimerie de Brée l'ainé], [1830]. 6, 41pp, [1]. Uncut. Stitched, as issued in original publisher's printed tan wrappers. Stitching perished, wrappers detached, text-block separated in constituent gatherings, some chipping to extremities. A rare survival, in original unsophisticated state, of the sole edition of a general catalogue (in four parts) of the municipal library of Falaise, Normandy, compiled by local historian Frédéric Galeron (1794-1838). Five supplements were issued separately in subsequent years up to 1837. Accounts of the library are in short supply, with the notable exception of a passage in James Augustus St. John's (1795-1875) Journal of a Residence in Normandy (1831): 'From the environs we very quickly returned to the city, in order to pay a visit to the public library, an institution which owes its existence, I believe, to the exertions of M. Galeron. The books are arranged, at present, in a small apartment of the Hôtel de Ville; but it is in contemplation to erect or appropriate some entire building to the library, which appears to be exceedingly well managed. Instead of laying out their funds in the purchase of rare editions, and curious old books, works of undoubted utility, histories, voyages, and travels, and the masterpieces of modern literature are bought. The only piece of luxury which I observed was the great work which Napoleon caused to be written on Egypt; but this was presented to the library upon application by the government. Numerous translations from the English, - Shakespeare, Hume, Byron, &c. - adorned the shelves, and appeared to have been much read: a few inferior authors, not very deserving of being translated, were also there; but, in general, the books are well selected.' OCLC records a single copy (BNF). . First edition?. 8vo.