Romanticism

Houssiaux reprint of the collected works. Having acquired the stock and publishing rights of Furne, the original publisher of the works, Houssiaux expanded the collection with three additional volumes (Théâtre, Contes drolatiques, etc.), which first appeared as part of the collected works in 1855, rather than 1853. The edition was subsequently reprinted between 1855 and 1875. All volumes are dated 1865 or 1866, except volumes 8 and 20, dated 1855, and volume 12, dated 1874.
Contemporary half dark green morocco-grain sheep, raised bands to spines with blind- and gilt-ruled decoration, chocolate-brown morocco-grain sheep lettering and volume-number labels. Some rubbing to the bindings...

First edition, with the wood-engravings in their first impression: 212 full-page plates by Gavarni (with the exception of the final four, which are by Bertall), together with 800 illustrations in the text by Bertall. Gavarni's satirical wood-engravings, accompanied by captions, form an extraordinary profusion of illustrations, almost anticipating the modern comic strip. Particularly striking is the remarkable variety of typographical ornament, including decorative borders, tailpieces and other embellishments.
Contemporary bindings, circa 1860, in brown straight-grain half morocco over boards with corners. Spines with four false raised bands, gilt-ruled and decorated compartments, gilt...

First edition, without edition statement, published simultaneously with the Paris edition issued by Pagnerre.

Contemporary red half-morocco bindings, flat spines twice ruled in gilt, large rule in blind and gilt floral tools, gilt roll-tooling at head and foot, slight rubbing to two headcaps, red cloth boards decorated with blind-stamped floral motifs, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, a few corners slightly bumped, a few minor nicks to some edges, contemporary bindings.
Some foxing and pale marginal staining, as usual, a small black ink stain in the margins of one gathering in the second volume, a slight loss to the upper right-hand corner of the first leaves of the sixth...

Illustrated edition with in-text and full-page woodcuts.
Publisher's bindings in red half shagreen, spines with four small raised bands decorated with gilt double compartments set with gilt ornaments, publisher's name gilt at foot of spines, blind-ruled frame on red paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled edges, contemporary bindings.
Some damage to the bindings, rubbing and scuffing to some volumes, light foxing.

First edition, uncommon, of this account of a journey through Italy following a thoroughly classical itinerary: Sens, Dijon, Lucerne, Reinthal, Pfeffers, the Grisons, Tyrol, San Bernardino, Locarno, Bellinzona, Lugano, Como, Milan, Pavia, Turin, Genoa, Lucca, Pisa, Naples, Salerno, Caserta, Rome, Florence, Milan, the Simplon Pass, etc.

Small losses and tears to the margins of the covers, some foxing.

The author was clearly determined to preserve his anonymity: not only has his identity never been established, but he also left unsigned the autograph presentation inscription in our copy to the Comtesse Duplessis de Pouzillac, written opposite the title page of the...

First edition, printed on thick wove paper.
Bound in contemporary half brown shagreen, smooth spines decorated with black typographic motifs, marbled paper boards, hand-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, modern slipcase edged in brown morocco with matching marbled paper sides and olive-green felt lining. 
Some occasional foxing, the note "Henri Beyle" in black ink at the upper corner of the title page of the first volume, without the final catalogue leaf at the end of the second volume, small corner restorations to four leaves of the first volume.
"Very rare and extremely sought after. Usually quite simply bound at the time. Often foxed" (Clouzot). "This work is of great rarity in...

Rare and sought-after first edition, first issue.

Includes the subscribers' list and the foreword, later removed when the remainder of this edition passed into the hands of another publisher, Dion-Lambert. It also features the pagination error in volume two: page 164 instead of 364. 

Black half-morocco bindings, smooth spines with double gilt fillets and double blind-stamped compartments, black paper boards...

First edition of William Shakespeare, published in 1864 by A. Lacroix, Verboeckhoven & Cie.

Contemporary half aubergine calf, smooth spine decorated with gilt and blind fillets, gilt ornamental bands at head and foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns. A few small areas of foxing.

A highly significant copy, with a signed autograph presentation inscription from Victor Hugo to Camille Berru, added on a leaf of blue paper:

“To my brave and dear companion in adversity...

New edition of the French translation established by Amédée Pichot, partly original as it is enhanced with a historical notice on Lord Byron.

Half blue glazed calf bindings, spines partially faded with four raised bands framed by gilt garlands and richly decorated gilt compartments, navy blue glazed calf title and volume labels, blind-stamped floral tools at head and tail, marbled paper boards, gilt fillets at foot, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges; a few lightly rubbed corners. Romantic bindings of the period.

Our copy contains 13 engraved plates, some serving as frontispieces.

Scattered foxing, a few leaves browned due to paper acidity.

A copy in...

First edition printed on vélin d'Angoulême. Complete copy with the six banned poems and the usual misprints.

Half shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands twice ruled in gilt with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled pastedowns and flyleaves, contemporary binding. Some foxing scattered foxing.  

First edition, with no deluxe paper copies issued.

Half aubergine shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands decorated with triple gilt compartments, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, speckled edges. Contemporary binding.

This collection of poems is followed by essays on Henry Murger by Théophile Gautier, Jules Janin, Arsène Houssaye, and Paul de Saint-Victor.

Our copy is enriched with an autograph note signed by Henry Murger, informing his correspondent that he will visit him soon.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands framed with gilt fillets and decorated with double gilt panels, gilt lettering at the foot of the spine reading "Ex. de Sainte-Beuve", double gilt fillets on the marbled paper boards, small black spots on the covers, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, gilt edges.

Scattered foxing.

Precious autograph inscription signed by Auguste Brizeux: "A Sainte-Beuve, au poète et à l'ami. A. Brizeux."

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge.

Scattered foxing, a few reading marks in red and blue pencil in the margins of certain paragraphs, printed stamp of the Armand Colin bookshop on the title page.

First edition, of which no copies were printed on deluxe paper.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge, original wrappers preserved.

Scattered foxing, some reading marks in red and blue pencil in the margins of certain paragraphs, ink stamps of the Etienne Vion bookshop and stationery in Amiens on the title page, a library shelfmark at the head of the title page.

First edition on ordinary paper.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, a small tear at the foot of the spine, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt top edge.

Scattered foxing.

Partly original edition, with no mention of a deluxe paper issue.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands tooled with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges, contemporary binding.

Pleasant copy.

First edition.

Bound in black half shagreen, spines with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, gilt dates at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges.

Some foxing, mainly at the beginning and end of the volumes.

Preface by Prosper Mérimée.

Partly first edition.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, date gilt at foot, marbled paper boards, combed paper endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges.

Some scattered foxing.

Edition largely original.

Half black shagreen binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt garlands, gilt date at foot, marbled paper boards, comb-marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt edges.

Some foxing, chiefly at the beginning and end of the volume.

Partly original edition, entirely revised.

Some foxing.

Rare copy preserved in its original wrappers.

Autograph letter signed by George Sand, addressed to her friend Stéphanie Bourjot, daughter of Étienne Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire. Four pages written in blue ink on a folded bifolium bearing George Sand’s monogram. Fold marks as usual.
 
This letter was partially published in Correspondance, vol. XIV, no. 7846.
A beautiful and partly unpublished letter in which George Sand discusses Marie Pape-Carpantier’s book and the education of her young maid, Marie Caillaud : « It is an excellent book, which I use to teach my young maid to read. She is extraordinarily intelligent, and this book opens her mind to all sorts of...

First edition published in the author’s collected works.
Some occasional foxing.
Half black morocco shagreen binding, smooth spine decorated with triple blind fillets and gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, contemporary binding.
Signed autograph inscription by George Sand : "to my friend Charles Fournier."
Handwritten note by George Sand beneath the title on the title page: "suite de Flamarande" published the same year and by the same publisher as "Les deux Frères".
 

Edition with some parts in first edition.

Half green straight-grained morocco with corners, smooth spines faded and decorated with gilt romantic arabesques, gilt friezes at head and foot, almond paper boards, covers and spine preserved, top edges gilt, handsome pastiche romantic bindings.

The Poésies nouvelles and the Oeuvres posthumes are here in first edition, and the Comédies et proverbes in edition with some parts in first edition.
This set comprises: "Oeuvres posthumes" (2 volumes), "Poésies nouvelles" (3 volumes), "Poésies complètes", "Mélanges de littérature & de critique", "Contes", "Comédies et proverbes" (2 volumes).
Some light foxing of no...

New edition.
Contemporary binding in half green shagreen, spine in four compartments set with gilt stippling, gilt fillets and gilt fleurons in the corner pieces, multiple blind tooled frames on the boards, white iridescent paper endpapers, all edges gilt.
Some leaves shorter in the bottom margin.

Handwritten inscription signed by George Sand on the first endpaper: “à mon bon ami Edmond Plauchut. G. Sand".

Today the only outsider to the family buried in the cemetery of the Nohant house, is Lucien-Joseph-Edmond Plau
chut (1824-1909) who began an epistolary relationship with George Sand in the autumn of 1848 when he was a voluntary expatriate after...

Autograph letter from George Sand to Gustave Flaubert dated December 21, 1867, 8 pages on two lined leaves. Published in Sand's Correspondance, XX, pp. 642-645.
From one of the finest literary correspondences of the century, this letter written on Christmas Eve 1867 is a sublime testament to the frank friendship between George Sand, the “old troubadour”, and Gustave Flaubert, christened “cul de plomb” [leaden ass] after declining his invitation to Nohant to complete L'Éducation sentimentale.

Despite their seventeen year-age gap, opposing temperaments...

Edition illustrated with 16 original watercolours by Auguste Leroux, engraved on copper by Delzers and Feltesse, one of 90 numbered copies on Imperial Japan paper.
Bound in navy blue half morocco with corners, spine with four raised bands decorated with gilt pointillé and triple gilt panels with typographic motifs, gilt date at foot, gilt fillet borders on marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers and spine preserved, gilt edges, contemporary binding signed by Bernasconi. 
As stated in the justification of the print run for the copies on Imperial Japan paper, our copy is complete with its two suites: one in colour with remarques and the other in...

First and only edition of this beautiful album, illustrated with a double-page map and 12 mounted plates after drawings by the author, including 11 aquatints offering spectacular views of the island.

The half-title page bears the following title: Voyage pittoresque aux îles Hébrides.

Some occasional spotting, otherwise a pleasing copy of this album.

Contemporary full purple shagreen binding, spine with four raised bands, compartments decorated with blind-ruled panels, minor rubbing to spine, covers framed with double blind fillets and scrollwork, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, gilt dentelle border on pastedowns, gilt dots along the edges, all edges gilt...

First and only edition of this remarkable lithographed album devoted to Toledo, published in parts at Madrid between 1847 and 1848 under the direction of Doroteo Bachiller, Lithographer to the King, with the collaboration of several distinguished artists, among them José Vallejo y Galeazo, Andreas Pic de Leopold and Luis Carlos Legrand.

Picturesque views of the city alternate with studies of its most remarkable architectural details, forming one of the most ambitious Spanish lithographic enterprises of the mid-nineteenth century. The work is absent from the Katalog der Ornamentstichsammlung of...

First edition.

Contemporary Romantic bindings in half green Empire calf, flat spines slightly faded, richly gilt with Romantic decorative motifs, marbled paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns; Romantic period bindings.

A few light spots of foxing; a discolouration mark on a blank endpaper of the first volume.

First edition of this celebrated illustrated publication, issued in Paris by H.-L. Delloye in 84 parts between February 1842 and October 1843 and subsequently gathered into three volumes. Carteret described it as an “admirable publication printed on stout wove paper [...] one of the finest of the 19th century”, comparing the quality of its production to that of the great illustrated books of the 18th century. Carteret III, 143-153; Vicaire II, 234-248.

The first volume comprises 5 unnumbered leaves - half-title...

First edition, one of 50 copies numbered on pure white rag paper, deluxe printing.

Binding in red half-shagreen with corners, spine with five raised bands framed by black fillets, some small rubbing on a few of the bands, date in gilt at the tail, framed by black fillets on the boards of speckled paper, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt on witnesses.

Illustrated with 60 heliogravure plates hors-texte.

Pleasant copy despite minor marginal spots of little significance on the endpapers.

Our copy is enriched with an autograph note dated June 1929 and signed by Pierre Abraham, mounted on tab, thanking Joseph Gabalda...

Rare and highly sought-after first edition.
Contemporary binding in black half shagreen, flat spines richly decorated with gilt ornamental rolls, discreet and skilful restoration to the foot of one joint, black paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled edges. Discreet restoration to the lower hinge of the first volume.
Exceptionally clean copy, virtually free of foxing (a rarity according to Clouzot, who notes that most copies are usually heavily spotted).
Provenance: from the libraries of Saint-Germain (with printed crowned bookplate beneath the titles on the half-titles); Count de Bonvouloir (with his printed bookplate, Château de Magny in Calvados...

Autograph letter signed to a friend named Alfred, 18 lines in black ink on a bifolium, in which the author urges him to help find employment for his brother, applying insistent pressure on his correspondent.

"Mon cher Alfred,
vous avez été excellent pour mon frère ... Il faut absolument qu'on le place. il est père de famille et sans emploi depuis un an. - Il y a 20 places qui auraient encore plus besoin de lui qu'il n'a besoin d'elles. Demandez formellement à votre illustre père un appui efficace et immédiat - pour un homme capable ... Votre père sera heureux de trouver une occasion de rendre service en rendant justice où je ne le connais pas. Tout à vous. Alph...

First edition, untrimmed with wide margins, very rare and highly sought-after (see Clouzot). Some occasional foxing.

Illustrated on the title pages of both volumes with two engraved vignettes by Porrêt. This copy contains the publisher’s notice leaf in the first volume and the author’s note leaf in the second volume.

Contemporary red half calf over marbled boards, calf corners, spines ruled in gilt with...

First edition of this theatre programme for Jean-Paul Sartre's adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's Kean, staged at the Théâtre Marigny in 1988, directed by Robert Hossein and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo in the title role.

A fine copy. Illustrated throughout.

Boldly signed by Jean-Paul Belmondo in black felt-tip pen on the cover.

Autograph letter signed by Roger de Beauvoir. One page in black ink on a bifolium of blue paper.
Discrete folds inherent to the mailing.
The writer and chronicler is preparing his Mémoires de Mademoiselle Mars, the immense actress who counted among his intimates. In this letter he invites his correspondent to go to the actress's residence with Alexandre Dumas to study her correspondence.

"Mon cher ami,
Hier soir à cinq heures j'ai appris une nouvelle si triste qu'elle a influé subitement sur ma santé ; j'ai combattu vainement cette impression, on m'a tant tourné le sang que je viens...

First edition.

Full celadon blue morocco binding, later (ca 1920). Smooth spine decorated with mirror-tooled ornaments at tail and head connected by fillets. Fillet frame on boards. Top edge gilt. Covers and spine preserved. Uncut copy. Scattered pale foxing. 

Handsome copy in full morocco.

Last flame of late romanticism, Dominique is a sentimental novel, imbued with profound melancholy, largely inspired by autobiographical events and narrating the story of an impossible love. It is the only novel by this celebrated painter, and remains one of the great works of 19th-century French literature.

First edition, "very rare and extremely sought-after" (Clouzot), one of 750 copies on laid paper, with title vignettes engraved by Henri Porret after Henry Monnier.

Skilful restoration of a tear at the foot of a page, with slight damage to a letter. A rare copy with no foxing.

Green half calf binding, smooth spines with arabesques stamped in gilt, black title labels and volume labels; marbled paper boards, spine boards and endpapers, speckled edges, later bindings in the Romantic style.

Autograph note by François René de Chateaubriand, 12 lines in black ink on a bifolium, addressed to Madame Amédée de Duras, rejoicing in her improved health.
A tear with loss, due to the seal having been broken to facilitate reading the note.
"Mde de CH[ateaubriand]. me dit de vous répondre: si je meurs, madame, ce sera à vos pieds le matin. Non pas à midi, mais à trois heures et demie. Je me porte à merveille chez ma soeur. Que cela ne soit pas vous, mais mde de Lévis qui m'ait vu perdre ma longue barbe er mon mouchoir turc. Ne venez pas, vous ne devriez pas venir. Mde de Ch[ateaubriand] est inconsolable... "

Autograph letter most probably unpublished signed addressed by Juliette Drouet to her lover Victor Hugo, four pages written in black ink on a bifolium. 
Transverse folds inherent to mailing, fold joining the two leaves reinforced with a fine strip of pasted paper barely perceptible.
Absent from the very complete online edition of Juliette Drouet's letters to Hugo by the Centre d'Études et de Recherche Éditer/Interpréter (University of Rouen-Normandy).
Very beautiful declaration of love and admiration by Juliette Drouet, the day after Hugo's plea defending his son. Charles Hugo had been brought before the assizes, and condemned despite his father's...

Autograph letter signed by the painter Eugène Delacroix to his friend Baron Félix Feuillet de Conches, master of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Charles X and Louis-Philippe. One page in black ink on a folded sheet, with the autograph address on the verso. Traces of seal and postal stamps dated October 7.

The painter writes to his friend Feuillet de Conches, a distinguished man of letters whose works were well received, and who also amassed an elegant collection of art and autographs in his apartment on the rue Neuve-des-Mathurins, the address of this very letter.

A charming and witty missive, in...

Mon cher Buloz, voici la lettre à M. Lerminier...

Illustrated edition with 600 original vignettes by Jean Gigoux, accompanied by an engraved frontispiece and a portrait of Gil Blas on chine, bound in between the address to the reader and the first chapter.

Copy of the first issue, complete with all the characteristics noted by Carteret that distinguish it from the second issue.

Half green long-grained Russia morocco binding, sides in green paste paper, smooth spine decorated with gilt compartments and three blind-stamped floral plaques with gilt accents, gilt title and date, stone paper pastedowns. Some rubbing to the binding, corners and edges slightly worn, occasional foxing and soiling to a few leaves.
Bookplate...

First edition, one of 280 numbered copies on mould-made wove paper, this copy one of 30 hors commerce copies in special wrappers reserved for the 30 private subscribers to all of Paul Valéry's works.

Fine copy.

Decorated with typographical ornaments by René Ben Sussan.*

Precious signed autograph presentation inscription from Paul Valéry to his friend, the bookseller, publisher and bibliophile Ronald Davis: "à Ronald Davis pour sa collection et avec les bons souvenirs de Paul Valéry."

Illustrated edition of Victor Hugo's speeches and political writings.

Wide-margined copy on chine, numbered (32), unopened.

Illustrated wrappers with some soiling, dampstaining and minor marginal tears, cracked spine, occasional foxing to the leaves.

First edition, superbly illustrated with 200 full-page plates and 120 in-text vignettes by Grandville. Second-issue printing, with the errors corrected. It may be identified by the fact that, in the first issue, the opening third of the volume was printed on tinted wove paper, whereas this second issue was entirely printed on uniform white paper; the frontispiece no longer bears the title Badigeneographie but instead Des affiches seront, d'après ses ordres....
Publisher's original full green ribbed percaline binding, decorated with special blocking tools commissioned by Hetzel specifically for this edition. Smooth spine stamped with tortoise, butterfly and beetle...

First edition, illustrated with a frontispiece in each volume and a folding plate at the end of the first volume.

Bradel-style bindings in brown half cloth with small corners, smooth spines very slightly faded and ruled in gilt, marbled-paper boards with a few minor scuffs, blue-grey endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges, bookplates pasted to the front pastedowns.

Some foxing, as usual.

Our copy is complete with all three engravings: a view of St Peter's in Rome and a plan of the remains of ancient Rome in the first volume, and Trajan's Column in the second.

It also includes a second state of the plan of the remains of ancient Rome, with slight variations...

The first Paris edition, published simultaneously with the Brussels edition.

Most of the volumes bear a statement of fourth, seventh, or eighth edition.

Some foxing to several volumes.

Contemporary half tawny speckled sheep bindings, smooth spines decorated with double gilt fillets, red sheep lettering-pieces lettered "Oeuvres de V. Hugo", sky-blue sheep title and volume labels, volume label lacking from the fifth volume, three others partially lifting, marbled paper-covered boards, decorative endpapers and pastedowns.

Illustrated edition with 20 original black engravings by Marianne Clouzot, one of 675 copies printed on Lana wove paper.
Slipcase spine sunned, joints rubbed, boards uniformly and lightly toned, internally in very good condition.

Revised and expanded edition, corrected throughout and supplemented with previously unpublished documents, preceded by a biographical notice of the author and followed by notes by Edmond Biré.

Contemporary half red shagreen binding, smooth spine richly decorated with gilt Romantic arabesques, marbled paper boards framed with a gilt fillet, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, signed binding by Flammarion.

Illustrated with 59 etchings engraved by Adolphe Lalauze after the watercolours of Eugène Lami.

A pleasing copy, attractively bound.

First edition on ordinary paper.

A crease to the lower right corner of the upper cover, a library shelf-mark to the upper left corner of the half-title page, which also bears, at its foot, a library stamp overprinted with the word "cancelled".

On the same half-title page, a signed autograph inscription by Alain: "A Monsieur Prulhières et vivent les lions ! Alain. Le 5 juillet 1935."

New printing of the author's works issued by Alexandre Houssiaux, who had acquired the Furne publishing stock under which the works had originally appeared. He expanded the set with three additional volumes (Theatre, Contes drolatiques, etc.), published here for the first time.
Bound in red half shagreen, spines with four raised bands ruled in gilt and richly gilt-panelled, a few minor scuffs to some spines, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, speckled edges.

A few light foxing spots, as usual.

Illustrated with 125 plates hors texte by the leading artists of the period, including Bertall, Daumier, Gavarni, Johannot, Meissonier and Nanteuil, together with rare...

First edition, issued without any edition statement.
Contemporary half mottled fawn sheep bindings, smooth spines ruled in gilt with double fillets, red sheep lettering pieces bearing the author's name "Works of V. Hugo", sky-blue sheep title and volume labels, marbled paper-covered boards, decorative endpapers and pastedowns.
Some occasional foxing, small holes at the head of the half-title leaf of the first volume.
Widely regarded as Hugo's masterpiece in the realm of fiction, a dark and baroque work in which his poetic style, built upon antitheses and oxymora, is carried to its furthest limits, anticipating qualities later embraced by the Surrealists.

First edition, without the mention “oeuvres complètes de Victor Hugo” (see Clouzot).

Contemporary red polished half calf bindings, spines slightly mellowed and decorated with four raised bands framed by gilt garland tools and gilt quintuple rules, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, marbled edges.

Very slight rubbing to the spines, a pleasing copy, lacking the preliminary preface leaf, attractively bound in a contemporary Romantic-style binding.

Charming illustrated edition featuring, as the frontispiece to the first volume, a portrait of Alfred de Musset after the original painting by Charles Landelle, together with 28 drawings by Alexandre Bida; one of the numbered copies printed on laid paper.

Bound in full midnight-blue Russian morocco, spines with five raised bands gilt-tooled with garlands and decorated with gilt fillets and blind-stamped typographical ornaments, gilt rolls to the spine ends, gilt dates at the foot, a few joints slightly split at the head or tail, covers framed with quintuple gilt fillets, gilt armorial bearings stamped at the centres, red moiré silk endleaves and doublures, gilt dentelle border to...

First edition.

Half morocco binding, spine with five raised bands tooled in black with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled edges, contemporary binding.

Some minor foxing.

Presentation copy signed by Victor Hugo to René Heymann.

Victor Hugo most likely came to know René Heymann (1866-1944) through his beloved grandson, the future painter Georges Victor-Hugo. In the immediate aftermath of the great poet's death, two years after the publication of this penultimate series of La Légende des siècles, Heymann would receive from Georges a heartbreaking letter: "Do not come today. If you only knew...

First edition.

Half green chagrin binding, flat spine with color restoration ruled in black and gilt, gilt frieze and date at foot, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved with restorations, binding of the period.

Presentation copy inscribed to Léon Richer.

Born into modest circumstances and having lost his father at an early age, Léon Richer founded in 1869 the weekly Droit des femmes, aimed at reforming women's legal rights, which enjoyed the renewed support of Victor Hugo: "I wholheartedly join in your useful endeavour. For forty years I have been pleading for the great social cause you devote...

Partly original edition, with 8 of the 12 stories in this collection appearing here for the first time.
Contemporary half red shagreen binding, smooth spine decorated with black and gilt fillets, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, speckled edges.

A small angular loss to the headcap, light rubbing to the spine.

First edition.
Publisher’s full brown grained sheepskin binding, orange top edge, smooth spine ruled in gilt.
Richly illustrated.
Copy complete with its dust jacket, acetate wrapper and soft slipcase.
Acetate wrapper slightly yellowed.

Illustrated edition with a frontispiece and 19 black vignette illustrations in the text by Marianne Clouzot, one of 675 numbered copies printed on vélin de lana.

Full caramel box binding, smooth spine, the illustrator’s name gilt at the foot, moiré-effect paper endleaves and doublures, cold-ruled fillet frames to the doublures, original covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, slipcase with inner flaps in caramel box with bands, moiré-effect paper sides, the slipcase edged in caramel box with moiré-effect paper panels; binding slightly later, signed Gavallet.

Like the 50 numbered copies printed on Arches paper, our copy exceptionally includes, at the end of the volume, a...