La Banlieue de Paris

8vo (233 x 172 mm), pp.56, 135, [5]. 128 black-and-white photographs printed in gravure. Original cream paper-covered boards, spine and upper board lettered in black. Original black-and-white photo-illustrated dust-jacket, text printed in black; expertly repaired at head of spine and folds of flaps. Near-fine.

The preferred edition with the dust-jacket, issued shortly after the true first edition which was published in Lausanne by La Guilde du Livre. Doisneau was born in Gentilly, a tough suburb on the southern edge of Paris. This is his first book, an unsentimental and affectionate look at the lives of the working class in and around the suburbs of Paris, photographed just before these ways of life were to change or disappear completely. At the time of publication he was not well known, though he had already taken a number of what would become his most famous photographs. He met Cendrars in Aix-en-Provence whilst on assignment for L’Album du Figaro; the two began a correspondence which culminated in this book.

Regards sur un siècle de photographie à travers le livre, (94); Roth, A., The Book of 101 Books, pp.132-3; Parr, M. and Badger, G., The Photobook: A History, Vol.I, p.201; Auer, M. and M., 802 photo books, p.336.