Dusacq

First edition of this rare album illustrated with 18 lithographed plates, including the title-frontispiece (see Inventaire du Fonds Français, VII, 243, no. 21).

This unbound suite is housed in a grey cloth chemise and matching modern slipcase, spine unlettered with two tears at head and tail, plain boards, light soiling to the lower board.

Some scattered foxing.

 

The rare first edition.
Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands showing rubbing at head and foot, marbled paper boards, front board scratched at lower right margin, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, leading edges rubbed.
Copy slightly warped, some foxing.
Autograph inscription dated and signed by Henri Durville to piano composer Antonin d'Argenton at the head of the half-title page.

HUGO Victor
John Brown E. Dentu & Dusacq, Paris 1861, 155 x 235 mm
(6 1/8 x 9 1/4 ”), original wrappers
The very rare first edition.
This copy retains its original photograph of Victor Hugo’s famous drawing of the hanging of John Brown and the facsimile of his manuscript text authorizing the reproduction of this drawing.
A militant for, and martyr of, the abolitionist cause who incited people to armed insurrection, John Brown was arrested in 1859 and hanged on 2 December in Charlestown, Virginia. His execution was one of the causes of the American Civil War.
From exile in Guernsey, Hugo tried to obtain a pardon, but failed. He wrote to President Lincoln: “America must know and be aware that there is something even more frightening than Cain killing Abel, which is Washington killing Spartacus.” This request on the part of Hugo, which seems almost a premonition of the Civil War, won him numerous enemies in the United States.

First edition.
Half pine green shagreen bindings, smooth spines decorated with triple gilt fillets, marbled paper boards damaged and worn, corners and edges bumped.
Two light dampstains affecting the head of the entire text block in each volume.

First edition.
Marginal dampstains affecting the leaves, one joint reattached, slight marginal lacks to boards.
Rare.