Une Heure de Récréation. Le Quart: Une Aventure de Zambeccari / Le Pauvre Médor; La Demie: Le Fils d'un Criminel / La Jacinthe d'Élisa; Les Trois Quarts: Ce Bon Monsieur Harley / Dinden Le Fortuné; L'Heure: Le Capitaine Flawberg / Almer, Le Derviche (four volumes)

[Paris]: Imprimerie de Maulde et Renou, 1844. First and only edition of this miniature quartet of illustrated storybooks. Each diminutive volume contains two instructive and entertaining tales, from the Italian aeronaut Zambeccari's real-life account of a dangerous hot air balloon expedition to inspirational works of short fiction. As the title suggests, these four storybooks were intended, as a set, to occupy an hour of leisure. Text in French. OCLC locates four institutional holdings, all in Europe; the surviving sets reflect a range of binding styles. Not in Bondy, Spielmann, or Welsh. A near-fine example, complete with fragile publisher's slipcase. Four miniature volumes, measuring 3.25 x 2 inches: 24. Original glazed pink, green, cream and blue cartonnage paper boards, each featuring a central engraved pastedown within embossed arabesque borders; variously colored pastedowns. Two tinted lithographs in each volume, with touches of hand-coloring. Lightest rubbing to boards; scattered foxing; short closed tear to page 13 of third volume. With publisher's arabesque patterned blue paper slipcase. Housed in custom clamshell box.