French Books & Manuscripts from Justin Croft Antiquarian Books

Item 40 is a collection of manuscript family “newspapers,” produced by the Taillandier family of Chateau-Thierry from 1832-38. As Croft notes, the Taillandier family “produced several precociously talented children, who wrote the newspaper,” under the supervision of their tutor. It covers family outings, birthdays, celebrations, visits to notable attractions, etc. There are also songs, jokes, anecdotes, and such within the pages of Le petit Furet (The little Ferret). The bound issues have been interspersed with explanatory notes added by a cousin circa 1895. £2,000 ($3,088).

For those with an interest in the seemier side of life, item 43 is L'Argot du “Milieu.” This is an inscribed first edition of a dictionary of criminal and low-life slang compiled by Jean Lacassagne and published in 1928. Lacassagne's father had been an important forensic criminologist, and the son headed the prison medical service in Lyon and made numerous studies of criminal culture. £400 (US $617).

Justin Croft Antiquarian Books may be reached at +44 1795 591111 or justin@justincroft.com.