FEATURING NINE LOOSE ENGRAVED PLATES OF ACTRESSES

BRASSEUR, Albert, pseudonym of DUMONT, Albert-Jules, presenter. Oh!! Nuestras Grandes Actrices de Paris y su Opinion Sobre La Quina-Laroche. Paris: (Devambez), [1908]. Octavo, disbound, original pictorial gray portfolio boards, cloth ties. $225.

First edition of this promotional booklet for the medicinal tonic, Quina-Laroche, purporting to offer the testimonies—in a play by Redelsperger—of the most famous Parisian actresses and accompanied by nine (of 10) loose engraved color plates of the actresses, inscribed on the title page by an authorized agent in Mexico City who distributed this booklet: "21e… 1909 Recuerdo de mi entrada en Monterrey al Sr. Soltmann. C. Muller." Text in Spanish.

This promotional booklet was issued by Carlos Muller, a high-level authorized agent of the medicinal elixir, Quina-Laroche, on behalf of F. Comar & Sons, who held the rights to Quina-Laroche. Quina-Laroche, while marketed as a cure for any number of illnesses, was—like many tonics of the era—heavily laced with cocaine. Here, the brand is linked to a group of famous Parisian actresses, who promote the Quina-Laroche in an introduction by Brasseur, a play by Redelsperger, and nine color-illustrated plates by De Losques (each of which features printed testimony about Quina-Laroche at the bottom). The actresses in the play and illustrations are Jane Hading, Eva Lavalliere, Carlota Zambelli, Polaire, Margarita Deval, Marta Brandes, Juana Granier, C. Otero, and Rejane. With fragment of tied string that originally bound the work. Without plate of actress Marta Regnier.

Small tear to page 7, mild toning to booklet, plates generally quite nice with only a few small spots of toning and foxing, boards with a bit of minor wear, soiling, and toning. An extremely good inscribed copy.