Les Liaisons dangereuses

First edition, rare, a C printing copy, known as “à la roue dentée” [dented wheel], with all the characteristics called for by Max Brun. The A, B and C printings were done consecutively and it was only from printing D onwards that notable differences appeared.

Contemporary half black polished calf, vellum corners, spine with fillets, title and volume numbers gilt. A little rubbing, especially to covers (with some paper lacks). Half titles lacking.

The various volumes have various flaws, we have listed them here carefully:
Volume 1 : narrow tear to title in the area of the date; p. 48, letter erased ; a few more letters erased on p.49; idem p. 72, 73. On leaf 85, hole to the note at the bottom of the page with the loss of several letters, and the same to verso. Leaf 89, upper corner missing; p. 168, brown spot to upper margin. Faint spots to upper margin to some leaves at end of volume.
Volume 2 : very faint dampstain to lower margin of title and through to leaf 35, gradually fading; pages 8 and 9, old brown traces of dampstains to middle of margins, same on pp. 28 and 29; p. 128 left-hand margin, yellowing; pp. 232, 233, brown staining to margin; pp. 240, 241 and 242, faint dampstain to lower margin, touching text.
Volume 3 : browning to title and two subsequent pages, but growing fainter; p. 106 and three subsequent pages, left-hand margins yellowed. Leaf 193? 7 cm tear across without loss.
Volume 4 : first two free endpapers frayed in upper margin by damp, a small amount of damping to upper margin of title and a few subsequent pages. Dampstain to upper margin touching text throughout the rest of the volume, occasional darker staining or foxing.
For reasons of economy, this edition was almost always bound in two volumes, whereas this copy is bound in four thin and elegant volumes, respecting its publication in four parts.