MEMOIRS OF VIDOCQ Principal Agent of the French Police until 1827 and now Proprietor of the Paper Manufactory at St Mande Written by Himself. Tr. from the French 4 Volumes

Hardback. First published in France 1828-1829. Rebound. Four Volumes Tr. into English. Vidocq was a French criminal who became founder and first director of the crime-detection Surete Nationale of France, as well as the head of the first known private detective agency (considered to be the first private detective). Vidocq's successes as an investigator inspired many Victorian authors in the early days of detective fiction writing. In 1828, Vidocq published Volume 1 of his memoirs - written by him, and with the assistance of ghost writers, subsequently produced a further 3 volumes. However, many of the accounts are regarded as being largely fictitious. Vol. I 237pp. 1st edn., 1st issue, pub. by Hunt and Clarke, 1828; Vol. II 266pp. 2nd issue pub. by Whittaker, Treacher and Arnot, 1829 (1st issue reads Hunt and Clarke); Vol. III 251pp. pub. by Whittaker, Treacher and Arnot, 1829; Vol. IV 275pp. pub. by Whittaker, Treacher and Arnot, 1830. 16mo. h/backs. Vol. I lacks Frontis. Portrait. Fr. hinge beginning to show Vols. I, III and IV. All corners bumped and worn, all Vols. showing signs of shelf wear, but still a Vg. set of 4 Volumes.