Les établissements généraux de bienfaisance placés sous le patronage de l'Impératrice : Maison des Quinze-Vingts, Hospice du Mont-Genèvre [...]. Monographies présentées à Sa Majesté par Son Excellence M. le marquis de La Valette, ministre, secrétaire d'État au département de l'intérieur.

Large folio: xxiv-394 pp.

Contemp. quarter green leather (covers sl. rubbed), spine with 5 raised bands (edges rubbed). Good, large paper copy.

A monumental publication with comprehensive descriptions of nine of the most important charitable institutions of France, with details about their history, administration, medical care, finance, architecture, etc. Ill. with 39 plates depicting i.a. ground plans of the buildings, seals, views, i.a. "Asile impérial de Vincennes", "Institution des Sourds-Muets de Paris", "Institution des Jeunes Aveugles" etc. The work is dedicated to the Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, with her portrait as headpiece above the dedication, to commemorate her appointment as patroness of these institutions. Most of these institutions had a long history. The Maison des Quinze-Vingts (or Hôpital des Quinze-Vingts) for instance was founded in 1260 by Saint Louis to support poor blind people, both men and women.
Ref. BnF. - COPAC.