La Banlieue de Paris by Blaise Cendrars and Robert Doisneau, First Edition

La Banlieue de Paris by Blaise Cendrars and Robert Doisneau

First Edition, First Printing, 1949

Exceptional Condition

This is a rare first edition, first printing of the highly regarded photobook “La Banlieue de Paris” published by Pierre Seghers, Paris in 1949. One of the classics in the French tradition of humanist documentary, Le Banlieu (the suburbs) is arguably Doisneau's finest book. As Parr and Badger point out in “The Photobook: A History”,  it "displays all of his characteristic warmth and humanity, yet it is a serious work that is generally free from the cuteness and the annoyingly obvious visual jokes that can sometimes push him into the dubious category of 'humorous' photographer, detracting from his real achievements....Doisneau caught [the suburbs] just as they were about to change and expand beyond recognition, making this book a valuable document that looks unsentimentally yet affectionately at a popular idea of the French working class."

Containing 130 beautiful black and white photogravures by Doisneau, the book measures approximately 9” x 7” and is bound in printed yellow covered boards with photographically illustrated endpapers and dust jacket. The book is in FINE condition in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with minor wear and a small chip to the head of the spine. It is rare to find this title in such wonderful condition. This is a highly collectible copy of Doisneau’s finest book.

Cited in both “The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century” by Andrew Roth and “The Photobook: A History”, by Parr and Badger.

Photographs of the book as well as photographs contained in the book appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the picture is viewable.