Les grandes dames

First edition of this Balzacian novel featuring a Don Juan and courtesans in the 19th-century style, with all the darkness and nonchalance desired. Illustrated with 20 steel engravings hors texte by Flameng, La Guillermie..., most printed in sanguine. Engravings as head-pieces, initials, tail-pieces...
Full black morocco. Spine with 4 false raised bands. Triple fillet forming 4 compartments each with a decorative tool. Relief escutcheon monogrammed J.D on the upper cover. Edges gilt. Corners somewhat rubbed. Light worming and pale foxing, mainly in the margins of the engravings. Some marginal dampstains on a few isolated leaves.
Handsome edition of this uncommon work. Houssaye was a literary personality of the period, theatre director, he created Hernani, plays by Nerval...

NB: This work is available at the bookshop on request within 48 hours.