First edition. Royal families of Europe. Set of the French administration.
Copy with the cipher of Marie Amélie d'Orléans, wife of Louis-Philippe, who also used a simple monogram for bindings from the time he became king. Some of the almanacs were directly bound by the publisher for the royal family, these copies often bear simple marks, the publisher not having the stamps belonging to the sovereigns. Nothing formally attests however that this is a copy for Marie Amélie d'Orléans, it is on the other hand certain that this copy was intended for a member of the royal family whose M is the first name. Furthermore Marie Amélie is only the name known today of the queen, who, like all members of the nobility at this time, had several names: Marie Amélie Louis Hélène.
Deluxe publisher's binding in full straight-grained olive green morocco. Spine with false raised bands decorated with 4 elaborately gilt compartments. Covers bearing a large ornamental panel with rococo and floral garlands. Edges gilt. Rich decorative gilt board-edges. Small lacks to head. 2 corners slightly bumped and the other 2 damaged. Some foxing on the first leaves and the last (more heavily marked).
Very handsome and rare copy in full green morocco with cipher.
First edition.
Bradel bindings in full apple-green boards, smooth spines slightly browned and decorated with gilt fillets, traces of rubbing to headcaps, corners slightly bumped, some tears to leading edges, contemporary bindings.
Some foxing.
Partly first edition, gathering the most famous speeches by Victor Hugo, including some of his most memorable addresses delivered at the tribune of the Legislative Assembly—most notably the speech on constitutional revision and the powerful plea he gave at the trial of his son, on 11 June 1851, before the Cour d'assises of the Seine, in defense of the inviolability of human life. Spurious mention of “eighth edition.”
Complete with the rare portrait of the author by Masson printed on China paper, as frontispiece.
Scattered occasional foxing.
Precious inscribed copy signed by Victor Hugo to Juliette Drouet : « à mon pauvre doux ange aimé. V. »
A treasured copy belonging to Victor Hugo’s muse and mistress. This moving and remorseful dedication is Hugo’s response to the tragedy Juliette endured that same year, having just discovered he had been unfaithful for seven years with Léonie Biard. In June 1851, Biard sent Juliette the letters Victor had written to her. In July, Hugo swore eternal fidelity to Juliette, and in August inscribed this plea for a more compassionate justice to her.
In the autumn, Juliette demanded that Hugo meet Madame Biard to formally end the affair—a meeting she choreographed in every detail, and to which Hugo complied.
Provenance: libraries of Pierre Duché (1972, no. 75) and Philippe Zoummeroff (2001, no. 71).
