Un Autre Monde

1844. GRANDVILLE, J.J. Un Autre Monde. Transformations, visions, incarnations... et autres choses. By Taxile Delord. [4], 295, [1] pp., half-title and title page printed in red, a black and white frontispiece, 133 woodcut vignettes, 15 full-page woodcuts, and 36 hand-coloured plates. Large 8vo, 265 x 180 mm., bound in original illustrated wrappers, laid down on slightly later boards. Paris: H. Fournier, 1844. First edition, a rare copy preserving the fragile publisher's wrappers, the front cover of which bears one of Grandville's most celebrated illustrations. One of the spectacular, surreal illustrated books of the nineteenth century. "In this remarkable book, of the boldest possible originality, Grandville dared to reveal his dream world to the public" (Ray). The illustrations expose an incredible imagination which was unlike anything that appeared in print before. Ray points out that the designs of Grandville certainly influenced Tenniel when he created the characters for Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Some slight foxing, joints a little worn, covers a little toned, generally the copy is in fresh condition. Carteret III, 285 (with reproduction). Ray, French 196 (with reproduction). Rebeyrat, Catalogue bibliographique et bibliophilique in: J.J. Grandville, p. 287. Sello, Grandville: Das Gesamt Werk 1167-1351.