First edition, first issue of one of the great modern illustrated books of the 19th century. Grandville was a remarkable caricaturist and he animates the flowers as women whose personality reflects a particular flower.
Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard (13 September 1803 – 17 March 1847) was a prolific French illustrator and caricaturist who published under the pseudonym of Grandville, and numerous variations (e. g. Jean-Jacques Grandville, Jean Ignace Isidore Grandville) throughout his career.

First edition, first issue; 2 volumes, large 8vo; 2 handcoloured title pages, 2 black and white steel engravings and 50 hand coloured engravings by Charles Geoffroy from drawings by J.J. Grandville, some minor spotting and browning throughout mainly to the text; bound in contemporary burgundy morocco gilt, marbled endpapers, binders label, overall a fine copy.