Paris: Hachette, 1833. First edition of a book on education proclaimed (in 1834) by the French Academy to be the best book of the year. Cochin was a highly respected Parisian lawyer, philanthropist, and, also, a mayor of the city’s 12th arrondissement where he witnessed the impoverishment and neglect of children, as well as the difficulties of mothers. In response, Cochin established classrooms- salles d’asile - where he, himself, instructed according to the appropriate age of the children. In a way he aimed at supplementing the education that heavily burdened mothers could barely give their children. “C’est pour suppléer, dit-il, aux soins, aux impressions, aux enseignements que chaque enfant devrait recevoir de la présence, de l’exemple et des paroles de sa mère, qu’il a paru nécessaire d’ouvrir des salles d’hospitalité et d’éducation en faveur du premier àge.” An early acolyte of his programme was Mme. Millet, wife of the painter Frédéric Millet, who went to England to study their young age school and returned to open the first salle d’asile on the rue Martyr in Paris. The project grew from there as outlined in Cochin’s manual, bringing the salle d’asile into the same school building as the salle-d’asile within the initial project funded by Cochin himself. There are two major parts to the Manuel: the first introduces the concept and. importance of the salles d’asile; the second part is aimed at outlining the objectives of the teachers. This is followed by an index of topics discussed; pages of music to be sung for instruction ( there are both an addition song and alphabet song); and, finally, by plates showing separate activities and a large folding plate showing the plan for the Maison created by Cochin in the 12th arrondissement between 1828. and 1829. A wonderful work of educational reform. Scarce in commerce. In OCLC we locate 15 copies, many of these the 1834 edition. Saving the very young from indigence and poverty. 8vo (20.5 x 13 cm); (ii) +285 + (1) + 19 + (1) pp. + 9 plates of which one is fold-out.