Léo Claretie, "Les Jouets"

Paris: May & Motteroz, Librairies-Imprimeries Réunies, 1893 (?), 327 pages, 300 vignettes, 6 color plates, cloth-backed covers, poor condition, missing spine, pages becoming loose. - Note: In addition to an overview of the history of toys from Antiquity to the Enlightenment, Claretie provides a valuable contemporary account of the French toy industry in the 19th century. Chapter VI (Les Jouets de Luxe) contains descriptions and accompanying illustrations of several well-known French automata. Also of particular note are Chapters VIII (Les Poupées) with mention of an 1892 exhibition of (Jumeau) costume dolls held by a Madame Cosson at the Palais de l’Industrie and Chapter XX (Les Jouets et l’Affiche) with reproductions of French department store posters. - In addition: C.L. Mateaux, "The Wonderland of Work", London, Paris and New York: Casell, Petter, Galpin & Co., second edition, 1883, cloth-backed covers, including chapter "Toys Old and New" on pp. 192-225; and a chromolithographed bookplate, Will Owen, "Automata, Uncle Podger: ‘Thank you, my dear’". - Excellent primary research material.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)