In good condition. Spine abraded with heavier scuffing and desiccation at joints and ends. Tail of spine torn, but leather remains intact. Spine darkened from age with light soiling. Light wear to extremities with scuffing along edges and corners. Front gutter tender and splitting. End papers lightly toned at gutter with offsetting from leather spine. Free of markings or ownership. Moderate patch of foxing to front gutter of half-title. Light toning throughout with minor instances of foxing. Binding remains intact. Please see photos. 

An unusually scarce copy of Gaboriau’s first detective novel and first detective story in France. It introduces a young police officer named Monsieur Lecoq, who was the hero in three of Gaboriau’s later detective novels. Based on the real-life thief turned police officer, Eugene Francois Vidocq (1775-1857) whose memoirs, Les Vrais Memoires de Vidocq, mixed fiction and fact. 

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