La Banlieue de Paris.

Doisneau's first book is an unsentimental and affectionate look at the lives of the working class in and around the suburbs of Paris, photographed just before the old districts were to change or disappear altogether. At the time of publication, Doisneau was not well known, though he had already taken several of what were to become his most famous photographs. He met Cendrars whilst on assignment for L'Album du Figaro; the two began a correspondence which, with Cendrars's support, culminated in this book. This is the preferred edition. La Guilde du Livre in Lausanne issued a pre-publication version without a dust-jacket, which, while taking precedence, is less desirable.

First French edition; 8vo (233 x 174 mm, 9¼ x 6¾ in); black-and-white photographs printed in gravure, photo-illustrated endpapers; cream printed paper-covered boards, photo-illustrated dust-jacket, light wear and rubbing to edges and spine, short tear to spine archivally strengthened on verso, very good copy; 55, [1], 135, [5]pp.

Regards sur un siècle de photographie à travers Le Livre 94; The Photobook A History, I p201; The Book of 101 Books pp132-3; Eyes on Paris pp202-5; La Guilde du Livre: Les Albums Photographiques 1941-1977 pp18-21.