Le Bon Genre. Observations sur les Modes et les Usages de Paris, pour Servir d'Explication aux 115 Caricatures Publiées sous le Titre de Bon Genre, Depuis le Commencement du Dix-Neuvième Siècle.

Folio. (405 x 292 mm). Half-title, title, list of plates with descriptive text (pp. 24) and 115 hand coloured engraved plates by Gatine and Schencker after designs by Carle Vernet, Bosio, Lante, Dutailly and others. A fine copy with full margins, with a sheet size measuring 392 x 275 mm (the copy cited by Carteret measures only 360 x 265 mm). Contemporary red calf-backed marbled boards, title gilt with elaborate gilt tooling to spine. One of the scarcest fashion and caricature suites with superb coloured plates. As well as caricaturing the excesses of contemporary fashion and society, the finely executed plates depict various public entertainers including the rope-dancing troupes of Forioso and Ravel, a magic lantern, two performing dog acts, two of Indian jugglers, two of acrobats, and four different aerial runways. 'Cet admirable recueil, un des plus beaux de son époque, est d'une grande rareté à toutes marges. On le rencontre souvent rogné en reliure du temps. Les principaux artistes qui y ont collaboré sont Carle Vernet, Lanté, Bosio, etc.; les compositions ont été gravées par Gatine et Schenker.' (Carteret). In this copy, plate 39 is in the first (1817) issue with the title: 'Les Titus et les Cache-Folies'. [Colas 2240; Carteret III, 99].…