Africa] Five weeks in a balloon / [Germany/Iceland] Journey to the center of the Earth by Jules Verne. Illustrations by Riou and Montaut, then Riou alone. Paris, Bibliothèque d'Éducation et de Récréation, J. Hetzel Éditeur, 1869-1867. Large double in-8°. Publisher's full grass green percaline boards with the words "Les Voyages Extraordinaires / Ballon & Centre / Jules Verne" on the first board. Binding without binder's or publisher's mark. Gilt edges. Mouse grey velvety endpapers. Printed by Jules Bonaventure. Third illustrated edition for Five Weeks in a Balloon (1869) and first illustrated edition for Journey to the Center of the Earth (1867). Covers and corners very skilfully restored. Otherwise, a very fine copy of this very rare trial binding nicknamed "Balloon & Centre" by collectors (cf. Jauzac p. 319). One of the most coveted rarities of the Vernian world and of which only six or seven copies are known!