Maurice Alhoy; illustrations attribuées - Les Bagnes - Édition originale & premier tirage - 30 planches dont 4 coloriées - 1845-1845

"Les Bagnes," an original edition from 1845 by Maurice Alhoy with attributed illustrations, is a notable 19th-century French work exploring the harsh realities of the French penal colonies, or penitentiary labor camps known as bagnes. These institutions were infamous for their brutal conditions and were a subject of social critique during this period. Alhoy, a journalist and writer, combined narrative with vivid illustrations—thirty plates including four in color—to document life within these camps, highlighting the human suffering and systemic issues of the penal system. The book is significant not only for its literary and historical content but also as an early example of socially conscious publication employing graphic art to evoke empathy and awareness among readers.