Title from plates. Large folio (352 x 270 mm.). Twenty-four numbered hand-coloured lithographed plates. Plates lithographed by E. Ardit and H. Gaugain. Plates 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24 with an embossed stamp in blind of E. Ardit in the lower margin. All plates are mounted on guards. Nineteenth-century half brown morocco over marbled boards. Smooth spine decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt. Top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Light rubbing to extremities. Some minor foxing and/or soiling. A few tiny marginal tears. Bookplates of Rinaldo Cenni and Pierre Frelet on front pastedown. Small ink stamp on the verso of several plates. An excellent copy. As a boy, Monnier had been fond of fairs and popular entertainments, and in maturity, he was fascinated by everything having to do with the stage. Monnier's command of this little world is authoritative, and he presents it with vivacity" (Ray The Art of the French Illustrated Book). "The theme of the street entertainer was popular with lithographers, although, with the notable exception of Daumier, their miserable state was not often depicted? Monnier, a playwright, and actor as well as a draftsman, included this low theatrical form in his Galerie théâtrale, which is otherwise devoted to scenes of actors' rehearsals and backstage life of the legitimate indoor theatre" (Beatrice Farwell The Charged Image p. 112, describing Pl. 1. "Sauteurs"). Coloured plates in order: 1. Sauteurs. 2. Phenomenes. 3. Une Debutante. 4. Une Queue. 5. Un Foyer. 6. Le derriere de la toile. 7. Une loge. 8. Un Comite de Lecture. 9. Un Paradis. 10. Une indisposition. 11. Une representation. 12. Mamans de comedie. 13. Chef d'emploi. 14. Cabaleurs. 15. Une Repetition. 16. Le Corps des ballets. 17. Troupe ambulante. 18. Tragediens. 19. Un ancien camarade. 20. Un Parterre. 21. Comedie Bourgeoise (le mariage de figaro). 22. Les Bienfuiteurs. 23. Une grande Coquette. 24. Lecon de declamation.