Alphabet des Insectes by Léon Becker
(France, 1883)

The scans come from the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

1/29/2015: I updated this post to properly credit Léon Becker as the illustrator. Fortuné Méaulle did the engravings, but if you look closely you'll see that each illustration is signed L.B. or L. Becker.

A previously-covered Cotsen exhibit says about the book:

Insects stand in for people in this highly fanciful French alphabet. In addition to weight-lifting or parading down the boulevard, they file into church, ice skate, duel, dance, sail, paint, serenade a lover or invite her to dance, and, of course, improve their minds reading.

Hetzel was one of the most important publishers of children's books in late nineteenth-century France, whose publications were distinguished by their handsome gold-stamped cloth bindings and excellent illustrations.

Also see:
Ready or Not, Here I Come
Insect Stories from Estonia
Eskimo Grasshoppers
Birds, Beret, and Butterflies

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This post first appeared on February 10, 2014 on 50 Watts