1931.]. Large 4to, pp. 60; with four ‘faux’ mounted colour paintings on dark green paper, 13 vibrant chromolithographs on seven leaves (including one double-page), and numerous heliogravures and graphs within the text; paper somewhat browned throughout, with occasional light soiling, though otherwise clean and crisp, gutters exposed in a couple of places but holding firm; with a number of later related newspaper cuttings loosely inserted; in the original striking silver gilt boards, lettered in black, and with depiction of the Paris Metro system in red, black, white and blue, with notable Art Deco inspired paste downs by Débatier, front inner hinge a little split and cracked but holding firm, with small tear to fore-edge of front endpaper, head and tail of spine rubbed and worn with loss of silver gilt, with further rubbing to joints, covers and scratched in places, extremities bumped and lightly rubbed; overall a good copy. Surprisingly uncommon and beautifully produced commemorative work, issued by the ‘Compagnie du chemin de fer Métropolitain de Paris’ (CMP) to coincide with the Colonial Exhibition of 1931. Clearly taking inspiration from the iconic 1927 film ‘Metropolis’, this vibrantly illustrated work provides a history of the Parisian underground railway from its inception in 1855, through the inauguration of the first line in 1900, up until the present day, with a look at the current state of the system and a glimpse of future developments. Copiously illustrated with black and white heliogravure photographs, vibrant colour maps and graphs, and with a further four ‘faux’ mounted artworks illustrating the ‘Viaduct d’Austerlitz’; the Viaduct B. Auguste Blanquè’; the ‘Station “Madeleine”’; and ‘une station de Métro’.
The atmospheric front paste-down, signed by Debadier, is very redolent of the time and most effective.